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In the second half of the 20th century innate immune responses of cellular or humoral
type were treated like stepchildren by many immunologists: that is, somewhat
neglected. This disregard turned into an exciting research field over the past several
years and led to the identification of receptor families involved in the recognition
of microbes. This has resulted in a remarkable refinement of our understanding of
innate immunity as it relates to host defense. Additionally, it has led to the appreciation
of the role of the innate immunity in “guiding” the development of the adaptive
immune system.
The Toll-like receptors represent an important family within the innate immune
system. Originally identified in Drosophila as Toll receptors, various homologous
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified in vertebrates. These receptors
recognize chemically diverse ligands such as lipoproteins, proteins, lipopolysaccharides,
nucleic acid, and nucleoside analogues and lead to the activation of immune
cells. The mechanisms of TLR-driven cellular activation are quite well understood;
however, information on the ligand-receptor interaction of the TLRs are scarce. A
great body of evidence suggests that TLR ligands, especially nucleic acid and its
analogues, have great pharmacological potential in the treatment of infectious diseases
and cancer.
This book reviews and highlights our recent understanding on the function and
ligands of TLRs, as well as their role in autoimmunity, dendritic cell activation and
target structures for therapeutic intervention.
Overall, recent research on TLRs has led to tremendous increase in our understanding
of early steps in pathogen recognition and will presumably lead to potent
TLR-targeting therapeutics in the future. |
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 CompTIA Security+ Deluxe Study GuideCompTIA Security+ Deluxe Study Guide gives you complete coverage of the Security+ exam objectives with clear and concise information on crucial security topics. Learn from practical examples and insights drawn from real-world experience and review your newly acquired knowledge with cutting-edge exam preparation software, including a test... | | | | CISCO TCP/IP Routing Professional Reference, Revised and ExpandedAn absolute gem of a reference guide, Cisco TCP/IP Routing Professional Reference brings the empyreal realm of routers and protocols solidly to earth. The author provides excellent analogies coupled with practical tips, making this book suitable for those new to the strange terrain of Cisco routers and TCP/IP networking as well as for the... |
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