DNA Sensing in the Innate Immune Response

Innate Immune Sensing of DNA

When a pathogen attacks, the immune system rapidly mobilizes host defenses in order to reduce the microbial burden and limit damage to the host [1]. Innate immunity is the first line of defense and relies on germ line–encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which sense microbial products that are not normally found on or in mammalian cells. The consi...

Innate Immune DNA-Sensing Pathways

Recognition of foreign DNA in intracellular compartments or in the cytoplasm sounds an alarm bell signaling pathogenic invasion. In response, innate immune DNA-sensing pathways launch an antimicrobial type I interferon (IFN) response, which becomes damaging to the host if unregulated or inappropriately activated by self-DNA. This Select highlights recent insights into activation and regulation ...

Integration of the DNA Damage Response with Innate Immune Pathways

Innate Immune Sensing of Flaviviruses

© 2013 Suthar et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), which permits making multiple copies, distribution of derivative works, distribution, public display, and publicly performance, provided the original work is properly cited. This license requires credit be given ...

Neutrophils in the innate immune response.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs or neutrophils) are an essential component of the human innate immune system. Circulating neutrophils are rapidly recruited to sites of infection by host- and/or pathogen-derived components, which also prime these host cells for enhanced microbicidal activity. PMNs bind and ingest microorganisms by a process known as phagocytosis, which typically triggers prod...