Description
In the past 5 years there have been remarkable advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of innate immunity. We now have considerable detail on the major classes of innate immune receptors that sense pathogens and provoke immune and inflammatory responses. These include the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs) and RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs). The role these receptors play in host defense against microbes has been studied, their signaling pathways elucidated, and their roles in infectious and inflammatory diseases examined in detail. As well as stimulating innate immunity via induction of various effector mechanisms, these receptors also participate in the establishment of adaptive immunity. This occurs via the induction of key cytokines to promote T and B cell development and activation, and also via the induction of co-stimulatory molecules on the surface of dendritic cells, notably CD80 and CD86. A final aspect concerns adjuvancy microbial or synthetic agents that activate these receptors act as powerful adjuvants required for the establishment of memory responses. This conference will bring together scientists working on innate immune mechanisms activated by these receptors, and will have as a key focus the ability of these receptors and the responses they elicit to promote adaptive immunity. The conference will therefore be of interest to many investigators interested in immunity and the role the immune system plays in disease.
