However, Zα domain mutation conferred somewhat less protection in terms of mouse survival and could not substantially improve the impaired erythropoiesis of Adar1mZα/– mice compared with ZBP1 deficiency (Fig. 3d,f,i), suggesting that ZBP1 also exerts Zα domain-independent functions, as shown previously in viral infection and inflammation models21. Here, ZBP1 is linked to viral infectious disease.