Our research aims to understand how the innate immune system recognize and respond to pathogens and how mutations in these sensing systems affect the development of infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases in humans. Our initial studies examined the roles of TLRs, NLRs and their adaptor proteins in response to certain microbial components (Nature 440(7081):233-36; Nature Immunology 7(6):576-82; JBC 281(48):36560-68; Journal of Immunology 178(12):8022-27; Immunity 26(4):433-43). Ongoing studies are investigating the sophisticated system governing activation of signaling cascades and the mechanisms involved (Mol Cell Proteomics 7(12):2350-63; Blood 113(12):2742-5; Immunity