Diversifying selection on a key regulator of missing-self innate immunity

Diversifying selection on a key regulator of missing-self innate immunity

Rocco F. Notarnicola et al. (2026, https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag082) show how an innate immune regulator (CFH), thought to be conserved by its interactions with self-components, is instead very polymorphic and under diversifying selection, likely due to selective pressures from pathogens like Borrelia highjacking it to evade immunity. Indeed, CFH sites involved in interactions with pathogens were under positive selection across rodents. This research was funded by NCN grant 2019/34/A/NZ8/00231 to Jacek Radwan.