An RNA-Binding Protein Secreted by a Bacterial Pathogen Modulates RIG-I Signaling (Cell Host & Microbe)

Extracellular RBPs have only been described in eukaryotes. Pagliuso et al. report that L. monocytogenes secretes an RNA-binding protein, Zea, which associates extracellularly with L. monocytogenes RNA. During infection, Zea binds RIG-I and modulates the type I IFN response. These results reveal that RNA can traffic between organisms via RBPs.