title: Introduction: innate recognition of bacteria and protozoan parasites.
abstract: Major advances have recently been achieved in the area of microbial recognition by the innate immune system. In this Forum, we discuss important issues related to innate recognition of bacteria and protozoan parasites. In particular, we highlight the structural characterization of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs); the definition of the receptors required for recognition of PAMPs, especially the Toll-like receptors (TLRs); the signaling pathways triggered by PAMPs/PAMPs receptor interaction; and the functional consequences of these interactions for pathogenesis during microbial infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, ICB, UFMG, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, MG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauro M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Igor C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Ricardo T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Gazzinelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000276:immunology*; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D010271:Parasites / Q000276:immunology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors