Involved in innate immunity against invading pathogens. Adapter used by TLR3 and TLR4 (through TICAM2) to mediate NF-kappa-B and interferon-regulatory factor (IRF) activation, and to induce apoptosis. Ligand binding to these receptors results in TRIF recruitment through its TIR domain. Distinct protein-interaction motifs allow recruitment of the effector proteins TBK1, TRAF6 and RIPK1, which in turn, lead to the activation of transcription factors IRF3 and IRF7, NF-kappa-B and FADD respectively. Component of a multi-helicase-TICAM1 complex that acts as a cytoplasmic sensor of viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and plays a role in the activation of a cascade of antiviral responses including the induction of proinflammatory cytokines .