Innate ImmunityHost recognition and response in health and disease

Over the past decade, innate immunity has undergone an explosive development, placing it on a par with adaptive immunity. The innate response serves to protect the host against infection; it consists of evolutionarily ancient mechanisms able to recognize and respond rapidly, but non-specifically to diverse micro-organisms and injurious stimuli through... read moregenomically hard wired receptors, signals and products. It also serves to induce, regulate or suppress specific immune responses mediated by B and T lymphocytes, able to rearrange their surface receptors by somatic recombination, thus achieving slower but antigen specific protective responses. Excessive or insufficient innate immunity causes a wide range of inflammatory diseases, and provides targets for treatment, such as through antibodies to TNF. Toll-like receptors (TLR) play an important role in the activation of myeloid and antigen presenting cells, collaborating with opsonic and non-opsonic receptors. By shaping the immune response, innate immunity determines the efficacy of vaccination; in return it is influenced by interactions with specific antibodies and T Lymphocyte-derived cytokines.

The list of speakers represents a range of internationally prominent authoritative experts, who continue to make advances in the field. The coverage is comprehensive, with care to avoid unnecessary overlap.