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Mounting an Immune Response

An effective immune response requires the coordinated action of numerous cell types. A critical first step is the activation of cells of the innate immune system, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils; and the receptors and signaling molecules that control this process are under intensive study. The mechanism by which cells take up, process, and present antigen is a major interest, as is the recognition of this antigen by T cell receptors on T lymphocytes. Cytoplasmic signal transduction molecules, nuclear transcription factors, and mechanisms controlling gene expression are all under study.