Databases and web-based tools for innate immunity

Abstract

A number of studies in the past decade have demonstrated that the innate immune system does not merely act as the first line of defense but provides critical signals for the development of specific adaptive immune response. Innate immune system employs a set of receptors called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize evolutionarily conserved patterns from pathogens known as pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). These receptors when stimulated lead to activation of adaptive antigen-recognition receptors subsequently inducing the expression of key co-stimulatory molecules and cytokines as well as maturation and migration of other cells. Though many bioinformatics-based databases and prediction methods have been developed for adaptive immune system, the work in the field of bioinformatics for innate immune system is still in its infancy. Here in this chapter, we describe the few databases that store the detailed information about innate immunity and related molecules and tools that are developed for prediction of important components of innate immune system.