The function of MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein, ENSG00000088888) is as follows. Adapter required for innate immune defense against viruses (PubMed:16125763, PubMed:16127453, PubMed:16153868, PubMed:16177806, PubMed:19631370, PubMed:20127681, PubMed:20451243, PubMed:21170385, PubMed:23087404, PubMed:27992402, PubMed:33139700, PubMed:37582970, PubMed:39589880, PubMed:38995016). Acts downstream of DHX33, RIGI and IFIH1/MDA5, which detect intracellular dsRNA produced during viral replication, to coordinate pathways leading to the activation of NF- kappa-B, IRF3 and IRF7, and to the subsequent induction of antiviral cytokines such as IFNB and RANTES (CCL5) (PubMed:16125763, PubMed:16127453, PubMed:16153868, PubMed:16177806, PubMed:19631370, PubMed:20127681, PubMed:20451243, PubMed:20628368, PubMed:21170385, PubMed:23087404, PubMed:25636800, PubMed:27736772, PubMed:33110251, PubMed:40042308). Peroxisomal and mitochondrial MAVS act sequentially to create an antiviral cellular state (PubMed:20451243). Upon viral infection, peroxisomal MAVS induces the rapid interferon-independent expression of defense factors that provide short-term protection, whereas mitochondrial MAVS activates an interferon-dependent signaling pathway with delayed kinetics, which amplifies and stabilizes the antiviral response (PubMed:20451243). May activate the same pathways following detection of extracellular dsRNA by TLR3 (PubMed:16153868). May protect cells from apoptosis (PubMed:16125763). Involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation by mediating NLRP3 recruitment to mitochondria (PubMed:23582325). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16125763, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16127453, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16153868, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16177806, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19631370, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20127681, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20451243, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20628368, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21170385, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23087404, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23582325, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25636800, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27736772, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27992402, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33110251, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33139700, ECO:0000269|PubMed:37582970, ECO:0000269|PubMed:38995016, ECO:0000269|PubMed:39589880, ECO:0000269|PubMed:40042308}.