Gene duplication and retrotransposition diversify the antiviral repertoire of macaque IFITM proteins
Deepthi Kappala, Alexis Sauer, Emma Atwood, Yuexiu Zhang, Anuja Pimplapure, Naveen Bektas-Jolly, Lohitha Gujjari, Kasturi Chandra, Yogesh Saini, Jacob S. Yount, Amol S. Suryawanshi, Jiànróng Lǐ, Amit Sharma
This study characterizes the antiviral activities and regulatory mechanisms of diverse IFITM proteins in macaques, showing how gene duplication and retrotransposition generate functional diversity in antiviral defenses.
bioRxiv · Jun 11, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology