title: Microbial Toll/interleukin 1 receptor proteins: a new class of virulence factors.
abstract: Quite a number of microbes possess genes which encode for proteins containing a Toll/interleukin 1 receptor domain. This domain is key for the physical interaction of eukaryotic Toll-like receptors with their adaptor molecules like MyD88 enabling innate immune cells to recognize invading pathogens and to initiate appropriate defense responses. Recent findings imply that microbial Toll/interleukin 1 receptor proteins impair Toll-like receptor signaling. As a consequence, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines is dampened, and microbial replication is enhanced. This group of proteins can thus be classified as a new family of virulence factors able to modulate the Toll-like receptor signaling cascade. This review summarizes current knowledge of the biology of this fascinating group of molecules.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Trogerstr. 30, 81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cirl
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miethke
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D037521:Virulence Factors