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4 - Microbial molecular patterns and host defense

from Part II - Bacterial cell biology and pathogenesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2009

Matam Vijay-Kumar
Affiliation:
Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA
Andrew T. Gewirtz
Affiliation:
Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA
Beth A. McCormick
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
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Summary

INTRODUCTION

As an interface with the outside world, epithelial cells play an important role in host defense against the vast number of microbes within our midst. A central feature in such microbial–epithelial cell interactions is the use of host pattern-recognition receptors (PRR) to recognize microbes, thus enabling an appropriate response. This chapter reviews the PRRs that mediate epithelial responses, considers the mechanisms by which they function, and discusses the role of these receptors in host defense and homeostasis. The chapter is based primarily on the intestinal mucosa in light of the authors' knowledge in this area, but many of the concepts should be applicable to other mucosal surfaces. Due to the rapid pace of advancement in this area of research, PRRs are often described and partially characterized well ahead of full determinations of the tissues and cells that actually express these PRRs; thus, this chapter proceeds with a general review of PRRs and then discusses direct and indirect PRR activation of epithelial cells and the role of these activation events in host defense.

PATTERN-RECOGNITION RECEPTORS: MEDIATORS OF HOST–BACTERIAL INTERACTIONS

The immune system traditionally has been divided into innate and adaptive components, which are differentiated functionally on the basis of whether their antimicrobial action requires previous exposure to the microbe or its components. Innate immunity has long been thought to rely on some germline-encoded mechanisms to recognize foreign products.

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  • Microbial molecular patterns and host defense
    • By Matam Vijay-Kumar, Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA, Andrew T. Gewirtz, Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA
  • Edited by Beth A. McCormick, Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Bacterial-Epithelial Cell Cross-Talk
  • Online publication: 12 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541537.004
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  • Microbial molecular patterns and host defense
    • By Matam Vijay-Kumar, Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA, Andrew T. Gewirtz, Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA
  • Edited by Beth A. McCormick, Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Bacterial-Epithelial Cell Cross-Talk
  • Online publication: 12 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541537.004
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Microbial molecular patterns and host defense
    • By Matam Vijay-Kumar, Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA, Andrew T. Gewirtz, Epithelial Pathobiology Division, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA
  • Edited by Beth A. McCormick, Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Bacterial-Epithelial Cell Cross-Talk
  • Online publication: 12 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541537.004
Available formats
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