Comparative characterization of bacterial immune stimuli

279:8694-8700. and TLR9 enables activation of human monocytes by CpG and muropeptides. (submitted to J Biol Chem) muropeptides – direct and synergistic effects on the immune system.like receptor 2 polymorphism does not affect lipoteichoic acid-induced chemokine and inflammatory responses. Infect Immun 72:1828. Heterozygous toll-like receptor 4 polymorphism does not influence lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine release in human whole blood. J Infect Dis 188:938. acid induced pro-inflammatory signalling in cultured rat microglia and astrocytes: role of MAPK ERK1/2 and p38 kinase. made this study possible not only by giving me invaluable advice and stimulating ideas, but also by providing excellent working facilities, maintaining cooperations and enabling me to attend conferences. Also special thanks to my second supervisor Dr. Corinna Hermann for creative guidance, motivational support and her valuable scientific discussions. Many thanks go to Prof. Dr. Albrecht Wendel for welcoming me into the group and for his continuous interest in my project. Massimiliano Marini for supporting the projects. Seuffert and Margarete Kreuer-Ullmann having always an open ear and excellent ideas. I thank all members of the " Lehrstuhl Wendel " for their contribution to the exceptional working atmosphere and for an unforgettable time. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Additionally, thanks to the people of the " JugendKultur eV.-Contrast " for funky times. Especially I want to thank my best friends Nina Hasiwa and Christian Schroff for going with me through every time. Finally, the greatest thanks go to my parents Ursula and Martin Traub. Without them it would have been impossible for me to elaborate this PhD thesis. ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviations A anhydro Ab antibody act D actinomycin D ALT alanine aminotransferase ANOVA analysis of variance Bn benzyl Bp base pair CARD caspase recruiting domain CD cluster of differentiation CpG-ODN oligodeoxynucleotide containing cytosine-guanosine dinucleotides D amino acid in D configuration DAP diaminopimelic acid, Dpm DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide Dpm diaminopimelic acid, DAP