The Toll-receptor family and central of innate immunity

innate immune recognition is mediated by a system of germline-encoded recep tors that recognize conserved molecular patterns that are associated with m icrobial pathogens. These receptors are coupled to signal transduction path ways that control expression of a variety of inducible immune-response gene s. Toll receptors and the associated signaling pathways of nuclear factor k appa B may represent the most ancient host defense system found in mammals, insects and plants.