Toll-like Receptors in infectious and inflammatory diseases: the double-edged sword of innate immunity (2011-2015)
Abstract
The innate immune system acts as the first line of defence against invading pathogens, and senses danger signals from invading microbes via families of pattern recognition receptors. The most widely studied of these are Toll-like Receptors, which are essential for the control of infectious diseases, but also contribute to the pathology of many inflammatory diseases including sepsis and atherosclerosis, as well as cancer metastasis. This project will investigate novel Toll-like Receptor signalling pathways, target genes and evolutionary divergence. The outcomes will enhance our understanding of cell biology and host-pathogen interactions, and may lead to novel therapeutic approaches in infectious and inflammatory diseases.
