Membrane fusion has a STING
Nature Immunology
June 18, 2012
Clues about how the immune system detects membrane fusion, the earliest event when a virus infects a cell, are reported in a mouse study published in Nature Immunology.
Soren Paludan and colleagues found that cells exposed to virus-like particles (VLPs) or artificially created liposomes lacking any genetic material or known stimulatory molecules could still elicit a robust immune response in mice in vitro and in vivo. Although unable to trigger any conventional pathogen recognition pathways, these agents are able to fuse with cell membranes. Recognition of membrane fusion seemed to be exclusively dependent on STING - an intracellular molecule more commonly associated with responding to pathogen-derived DNA material. Although membrane fusion could elicit an immune response on its own, it could also synergize with other immune-stimulatory signals and may therefore represent a generalized and important first step in pathogen recognition.
doi: 10.1038/ni.2350
Research highlights
-
Jun 24
Palaeontology: It sucked to be the prey of ancient cephalopodsScientific Reports
-
Jun 24
Sport science: New wearable sensor to measure neck strain may detect potential concussionScientific Reports
-
Jun 23
Scientific community: Women credited less than men in scientific paper authorshipNature
-
Jun 17
Conservation: Feral cats pushing critically endangered marsupial further towards extinctionScientific Reports
-
Jun 17
Health technology: New cost-effective smartphone test for middle ear functionCommunications Medicine
-
Jun 16
Microbiology: DNA analysis indicates origins of the Black DeathNature