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The stated goal is to develop an effective human immunodeficiency virus vaccine, yet the Gates initiative might revolutionize the entire vaccine field.
Interleukin 17 (IL-17)–producing T cells are associated with inflammatory conditions. Two studies now show that IL-27, an IL-12 family member with both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties, potently suppresses the development of IL-17-producing T cells.
Whether natural killer T cells recognize antigens derived from dangerous pathogens remains unclear. New data demonstrate that a glycolipid from Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, directly stimulates mouse and human natural killer T cells.
The recently deduced structures of amphioxus immune-like receptors provide new insights on what is actually required for antigen recognition by antigen receptors.
Many aspects of the CD8+ T lymphocyte response are 'programmed' by inductive stimuli during primary activation. A recent Nature paper shows that interleukin 2 signals endow CD8 T cells with the capacity for secondary population expansion during priming.