Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a family of lymphoid effector cells with important roles in immunological defense and pathology. Nature Immunology presents a series of specially commissioned articles that discuss the evolution, development, functional diversity and immunotherapeutic potential of ILCs. In collaboration with Nucleus Medical Media, Nature Immunology has also produced an animation that shows the complexity of ILC biology in the gut at steady state and during disease.

Nature Immunologypresents a series of specially commissioned articles that discuss the most recent progress in understanding the immune response to HIV and how this new insight can be harnessed for prophylactic vaccines and immunotherapies.

The lungs are usually the first site of exposure to pathogens. To counter this imminent threat, the lungs have their own large and complex system of cells of the immune system. A series of five Reviews specially commissioned by Nature Immunologydiscusses all key aspects of lung immunology. In collaboration with Arkitek Studios, Nature Immunology has also produced an animation that delineates the complexities of the lung immune system in health and disease. Produced with support from Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson Animation by Arkitek studios

Flow cytometry is a powerful laser-based technology. Due to developments in hardware, software and new fluorescent reagents it has now become possible to measure multiple parameters of individual cells with enhanced efficiency and quality and, notably, to generate more data with a smaller sample size than would be required for serial analysis. How have the advances of modern multicolor flow cytometry driven research forward, especially in the field of immunology?

T cell development and effector function depends on signaling initiated via the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). Nature Immunologypresents a focus on TCR signaling with four specially commissioned Review and Perspective articles.

A series of Reviews specially commissioned by Nature Immunologydiscuss post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications in the immune system. The Focus covers the role of such modifications in various aspects of the immune system ranging from development to activation to immunopathology.

New technologies enable analysis of the extraordinarily diverse and polymorphic components of the immune system–especially the human immune system–at a level of unprecedented detail. Reviews and a Commentary specially commissioned by Nature Biotechnology and Nature Immunology discuss these new methodologies, and how they may be applied to track immune status in health and disease, as well as to reveal new basic immunological insight. A Correspondence describing an initiative to design tools and resources to facilitate these high-dimensional analyses is also included.

A web focus from Cell Death & Differentiation, Cell Death & Disease, Nature Immunology and Oncogene. We hope you enjoy this focus including work from the world's most recognized experts in the field of Necroptosis.

Immune cells are found in diverse nonlymphoid tissues where they patrol against infection and injury and help to maintain homeostasis. This month's Focus features five specially commissioned Reviews that discuss interactions and functions of tissue-resident leukocytes.

Six specially commissioned Reviews and Perspectives discuss specific aspects of the interaction between the microbiota and the immune system and their influence on local and systemic immune homeostasis.

NK cells, which play important roles in homeostasis, surveillance and defense, the three major functions of the immune system, were first observed in 1975, 20 years after the discovery of T and B lymphocytes. Despite almost 40 years passing, our understanding of NK cell immunology in general lags far behind that of T and B lymphocytes. However, over the past 5 years, significant progress has been made in understanding NK cell biology.

Over the past several decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the roles of B cells in immunity and autoimmunity. B-cell development, occurring in the bone marrow, is a complex dynamic process involved in immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangement and B-cell receptor (BCR) expression. Early progenitor B (pro-B) cells initiate DNA rearrangement at their Ig heavy chain loci, resulting in the synthesis of m-chains in the cytoplasm and the assembly of the precursor B-cell receptor (pre-BCR). Following the successful rearrangement of light chain genes, these precursor B (pre-B) cells differentiate into immature B cells when whole IgM molecules are expressed as functional BCR on the cell surface. The newly formed immature B cells then leave the bone marrow and become mature B lymphocytes in the peripheral lymphoid organs.