The Toll-receptor family and control of innate immunity

Innate immune recognition is mediated by a system of germline-encoded receptors that recognize conserved molecular patterns that are associated with microbial pathogens. These receptors are coupled to signal transduction pathways that control expression of a variety of inducible immune-response genes. Toll receptors and the associated signaling pathways of nuclear factor κB may represent the most ancient host defense system found in mammals, insects and plants.