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Interferons are glycoprotein cytokines secreted by host lymphocytes in response to pathogens. Interferons activate or upregulate immune cells by interacting with receptors that activate signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signalling complexes. This ultimately leads to clearance of the pathogen or clearance of tumour cells from the organism.
In this Review, the authors analyze evidence for autoimmunity against components of antimicrobial immunity, metaphorically represented by the mythical ouroboros snake eating its own tail.
Blood and liver stages of malaria parasites can affect each other, but it’s not clear how this may affect live-attenuated whole parasite vaccination. Here the authors show that malaria parasite blood stage infection subdues new infection and vaccination by suppressing growth of its liver stage via host cytokines.
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen associated with morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised or immunonaive context. Here the authors show that HCMV exploits STING signalling and subverts the interferon response to support infection of monocyte derive dendritic cells.
De Jesus et al. describe the redox-mediated regulation of m6A writer methyltransferase 3, which blunts innate immune responses by modification of RNA sensor and editor component mRNAs during the onset of type 1 diabetes in β-cells.
Single cell transcriptomics can reveal at high resolution the body’s response to infection. Here the authors have applied this technology to a longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 infected cohort and identified gene expression changes that may predict disease severity and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Determining the immune crosstalk between macrophages and NK cells in bronchioalveolar lavage fluid during SARS-CoV-2 infection in macaques identifies immunoregulatory properties of NK cells and their implications for viral persistence.