Encrypted immunity mediated by peptides.

Authors

Zhenrun J Zhang, Yifat Merbl, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez

Published in

PLoS biology. Volume 24. Issue 8. Pages e3003914. Epub Aug 19, 2026.

Abstract

Computational and experimental advances have led to the discovery of a large and diverse repertoire of bioactive peptides encrypted within proteins from across the tree of life. Mounting evidence suggests that these peptides can contribute to host defense not only through direct antimicrobial activity, but also through immunomodulatory and potentially broader physiological functions. This Essay synthesizes this emerging field from a broader biological perspective and explains the conceptual logic of immunity mediated by encrypted peptides. It proposes that such 'encrypted immunity' represents a previously underappreciated layer of host defense and physiology, with potential implications for therapeutics, diagnostics, and fundamental biology.

PMID:
42616728
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 20 Aug 2026.

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