[TLR family and viral infection]

The immune system has been divided into innate and adaptive component, each of which has different roles and functions in defending the organism against foreign agents, such as bacteria and viruses. An important advance in our understanding of early events in microbial recognition and subsequent development of immune responses was the identification of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as key molecules of the innate immune systems. The family of TLRs in vertebrates detects conserved structures found in a broad range of pathogens and triggers innate immune responses. At present, 11 members of the TLR family have been identified. A subset of TLRs recognize viral components and induce antiviral responses by producing type I interferons. Recent accumulating evidence has clarified signaling pathways triggered by TLRs in viral infection.