Tag Archives: innate immunity
Shutting down unwanted visitors: Please be quiet
Our cells respond to invading DNAs formed by viral infection in a variety of ways to suppress their ability to produce RNAs and proteins. One mechanism is to wrap the DNA with histones into a form of
Villi-like topography provides a native microenvironment for the intestinal epithelial morphogenesis
The use of an organotypic culture system, as an alternative to animal models, for recapitulating physiological and biologically relevant intestinal tissue is constantly gaining success in various fields of science. Indeed, it is currently used in basic
The pubertal divide in mortality from severe influenza: clues for novel therapeutics
The 1918 influenza pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, was a protracted and devastating outbreak. Upwards of 500 million people worldwide were infected and death estimates surpassed 50 million. Contemporary studies using virus reconstructed from autopsy
Acute immune responses in the brain differ from responses in blood
Immune cells of the brain called microglia, appear to have been adapted to their vulnerable environment. They react less destructive to danger signals than their counterparts in the blood. Microglia are the resident macrophages of the central
Who is the father of innate immunity?
The thermometer can show that something is wrong with a patient (pyrexia). But it cannot be more specific. Likewise, there is evidence, dating back to the ancient Greeks, that the slight changes in blood serum that occur
Multi-tasking proteins protect sea urchins from multitudes of pathogens
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a deadly problem for human health, yet these pathogens arise and persist due to the misuse and over-prescription of the same classes of antibiotics. Wouldn’t it be better if there was a
