BioPark Hertfordshire, Welwyn Garden City
9th October 2009
Confirmed Talks include:
Immune recognition of fungal pathogens
Professor Neil A.R. Gow, University of Aberdeen, UK
Candida albicans is the most common agent of life-threatening human disease due to a fungus. We have constructed a series of mutant strains with alterations in C. albicans cell wall biosynthesis and used these to explore the role of the glycans on fungal pathogenesis. Cytokine production by mononuclear cells or dendritic cells results from the detection of multiple wall components, singly and in combination. Other cell wall components block of shield the fungus from immune recognition by TLRs and lectin receptors. Therefore fungal recognition by the immune system is a complex and dynamic process triggered by multiple signals and multiple receptor complexes. [Reference:Netea, et al (2008) Nat Rev Microbiol 6, 67-78
Differences in the TLR extracellular domain drive species-specific pathogen recognition Professor Dirk Werling, Royal Veterinary College, UK
RIG-like helicases and viral antagonists
Professor Steve Goodbourn, University of London, UK
The RNA helicases, RIG-I and mda-5, recognise non-self RNA molecules generated in the cytoplasm, and signal through a common downstream adaptor to activate the transcription factors IRF-3 and NF-kappaB. These in turn signal the activation of an innate anti-viral program, including the production of type I interferon. In order to replicate efficiently, viruses must counter this system. This talk will focus on the mechanism of activation of RIG-I and mda-5 by viral RNAs, and their specific antagonism by viral proteins such as the paramyxovirus V protein and the influenza A virus NS1 protein. Confirmed Speakers include:
- Dr Helen S Atkins, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, UK
- Dr Nick Gay, University of Cambridge, UK
- Dr Clare Bryant, University of Cambridge, UK
|
|