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Until recently, the gene AMOTL2 was known for shaping cell structure and signaling — not for defending against viral invaders. But groundbreaking research led by Dr. Alexandra Willcox in the lab of Dr. Julie Overbaugh at Fred Hutch, reveals that this gene plays a surprising role in helping the immune system fight Zika virus. This unexpected discovery, born from an out-of-the-box approach to a molecular mystery, could have implications for treating Zika, other viruses, and even cancer. “It was one of the hardest projects that any graduate student in my lab has had,” said Overbaugh. “Alex really stuck with this project through many twists and turns.”