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Pattern recognition in the immune system
Specific peptide recognition
• Antibody epitopes
• T-cell receptors recognizing peptides
presented on MHC-molecules
Other types of recognition
• MHC subclasses and levels – NK cells
• Lipid antigens – NK T cells
• Sugars, glycoproteins and nucleic acids –
complement, B cells, T cells, dendritic cells,
macrophages etc.
• Unknown receptor/ligand interactions and
signalling pathways
NK cells and KIR
Major class of stimulatory and inhibitory receptors:
Killer-Immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs)
Different KIRs recognize different MHC I
KIR-MHC combinations and disease
Recognition of glycolipids
MHC-like molecules (CD1d) on antigen presenting
cells present glycolipids to NK T cells with an
invariant T cell receptor
Which ligands are recognized (self/foreign?)
Recognition of ”pathogenicity”
Direct recognition of pathogens – ”danger
signals” (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic)
Innate immune system alerts the adaptive
immune system in parallel with antigenpresentation
(3. signal = cytokines)
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns
Pattern recognition receptors must recognize
structures vital to the pathogen!
Complexity in
receptor cooperation
poorly understood
i.e. TLRs, C-type
lectins, complement
 Need for
immunological
bioinformatics!