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Nature Immunology 7, 1237–1242 (1 December 2006) | doi:10.1038/ni1420

The innate signaling of dangers and the dangers of innate signaling

Philippe J Sansonetti

The innate immune system of mammals has been forged by coevolution with microbes in response to the double constraint of preserving a symbiotic interaction with commensal flora and eliminating intrusion of those commensals or invasion by pathogens. Thus, a 'sensing' network, accompanied by or lacking inflammatory responses, is controlled by elaborate mechanisms of regulation that maintain balance in the basal state. A growing number of non–Toll-like innate immune receptors is recognized as part of this surveillance network.