The innate immune system constitutes the first line of defense against invading microbial
pathogens and relies on a large family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which detect …

Microorganisms that invade a vertebrate host are initially recognized by the innate immune
system through germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). Several classes of …

Pneumococcal meningitis continues to be associated with high rates of mortality and long-
term neurological sequelae. The most common route of infection starts by nasopharyngeal …

TLR2 in association with TLR1 or TLR6 plays an important role in the innate immune
response by recognizing microbial lipoproteins and lipopeptides. Here we present the …

Innate immunity is a constitutive component of the central nervous system (CNS) and relies
strongly on resident myeloid cells, the microglia. However, evidence is emerging that the …

The discovery of mammalian TLRs (Toll-like receptors), first identified in 1997 based on their
homology with Drosophila Toll, greatly altered our understanding of how the innate immune …

Leukocyte migration into and through tissues is fundamental to normal physiology,
immunopathology and host defence. Leukocyte entry into the central nervous system (CNS) …

Bacterial infections following influenza are an important cause of morbidity and mortality
worldwide. Based on the historical importance of pneumonia as a cause of death during …

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of invasive bacterial disease
worldwide. Fragments of the cell wall and the cytolytic toxin pneumolysin have been shown …

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) derived fromStreptococcus pneumoniae, purified employing a
chloroform/methanol protocol, and from Staphylococcus aureus, prepared by the recently …