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Interferon Overview Interferons (IFN) are a family of cytokines which, upon secretion, play a central role in mediating the innate and adaptive immune response to viral and bacterial challenges. Isaacs and Lindenmann first discovered a molecule they called interferon in the 1950s, which is now referred to as IFN gamma (Isaacs and Lindenmann, 1957). Following several more studies there are now two IFN family members identified; Type I IFN, which include …

By Sonika Singh PhD candidate, University of Nottingham A Devastating Disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and inflammatory disease based on autoimmunity[1], mainly affecting the central nervous system (CNS) in young white adults[2]. MS is a disease which involves damage to the myelin sheath, that is a lipoprotein-based insulation of the axons. This sheath is essential for the electrical activity and saltatory conducti …

Natural Killer cells - an overview Natural Killer (NK) cells were first described in the mid-1970’s as a population of innate lymphocytes that were able to mediate cytotoxicity against tumour cells without prior exposure to a target (Herberman et al., 1975, I and II). NK cells are found in primary and secondary immune compartments, some mucosal tissues and are continually circulating through the vasculature to perform host immunosurveillance. …

An overview of Wnt Signalling The Wnt signalling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that plays critical roles in the regulation of determining cell fate, polarity, migration, neural patterning and organogenesis during embryonic development (Komiya and Habas, 2008). Components of this signalling pathway were discovered in the 1980’s by a number of researchers working in both mouse and Drosophila models. The name ‘Wnt’ originated from a combin …

A calculated balance between Virus Replication, Cell Proliferation and Host Immune System HIV Virus: Replication Cycle and Pathogenesis in absence of HAART Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is transmitted through body fluids (blood, sexual fluids, and breast milk) and causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Current highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) effectively suppresses virus replication preve …