Masters, marionettes and modulators: intersection of pathogen virulence factors and mammalian death receptor signaling

- TNF and its receptor, TNFR1, help orchestrate an inflammatory response to pathogens.
- TNFR1 signaling is therefore a frequent target of pathogen manipulation.
- We describe how the TNFR1 signaling pathway is targeted by pathogen virulence factors and how the different arms of TNFR1 signaling react.
- We examine recent data showing the importance of other members of the Death Receptor family in the immune response to pathogens.
- We discuss how understanding pathogen inhibition suggests clinical applications.