PRRs in pathogen recognition

The innate immune system provides the first line of host defense against invading microorganisms before the development of adaptive immune responses. Innate immune responses are initiated by germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which recognize specific structures of microorganisms. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern-recognition receptors that sense a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. TLRs exist either on the cell surface or in the lysosome/endosome compartment and induce innate immune responses. Recently, cytoplasmic PRRs have been identified which detect pathogens that have invaded the cytosol. This review focuses on the pathogen recognition of PRRs in innate immunity.