However, it is only with free and open access to genome databases, continuing technology development, accurate identification of genetic and environmental factors, continuing financial investments, development of close private–public partnerships, collaboration of governmental and nongovernmental GS-1101 supplier organizations, academic institutions, individuals and good policy decisions that the benefits of genomics and systems biological studies can be fully utilized and manifested

to achieve new drug and vaccine targets that have emerged from genomic analyses and bring us closer to the eradication of malaria. We would like to thank Randal Maile and Vance C. Huskins for their help with proofreading the manuscript. We apologize to the authors whose works were unable to be cited because of space limitations. This work is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institutes of Health (#1R01AI085077-01A1). “
“The functional avidity of a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) is known to be a critical determinant of the efficacy with which it clears pathogens. High avidity cells, which are by definition

highly sensitive to peptide antigen, are superior for elimination of viruses and tumours. Our studies have established the ability of T cells to undergo avidity modulation as a result of antigen encounter. Maraviroc High and low avidity cells established in this manner exhibit significant differences in the amount of peptide PD184352 (CI-1040) required to elicit effector function. However, how signalling is regulated in these cells as it relates to the control of peptide sensitivity remains to be defined. To address this question, we compared T-cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction events in high and low avidity CTL generated from OT-Irag2− TCR transgenic mice. Our data suggest that divergent signalling is initiated at the TCR-associated CD3ζ, with low avidity CTL requiring higher amounts of pMHC to achieve threshold levels of phosphorylated CD3ζ compared with high avidity CTL. Further, this difference is transduced further downstream to mitogen-activated

protein kinase and Ca2+ signalling pathways. These results suggest that regulated control of the initiation of TCR signalling in high versus low avidity cells determines the amount of peptide required for T-cell activation. Interaction between a T-cell receptor (TCR) and its cognate peptide results in a series of biochemical events inside the cell culminating in proliferation, cytokine production, and release of lytic granules. Engagement of TCR with its ligand leads initially to the activation of the Src-tyrosine kinases p56Lck and p59fyn, which is a critical step in the TCR signal transduction cascade.1,2 Signalling downstream of the engaged TCR is initiated when p56Lck phosphorylates immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) within the TCR-associated CD3ζ complex.