Toll-like signaling pathway: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial immune sensors of microbial infection. TLR signalling is initiated by the recruitment of adaptor proteins, MyD88 and Toll-interacting protein activating NF-κB transcription factor, critical for the innate immune system and inflammation. Recent studies show that improper regulation of innate immunity and inflammation are associated with diseases like asthma, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer and cancer. Our overall goal is to characterize the modular proteins in this signaling pathway. This project is in collaboration with Dr Liwu Li (Virginia Tech).