Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in the initiation and regulation
of immune responses. Recent advances have begun to uncover the nature and
diversity of DC-pathogen interactions and the modulation of DC function by
microbial stimuli. Antigen pulsed DCs have also been shown in several infec
tion models to induce high levels of protective immunity and to display imm
unotherapeutic potential. The study of the function of DCs in the response
to infection is thus an exciting and rapidly expanding field with important
implications for both fundamental and clinical immunology.