Cloning of human NK cells and macrophages carbohydrate receptors

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Lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells, are important for the well being of all individuals as these are the cells which fight infection by microorganisms. The lymphocyte gets its information about enviroment and communicates with other cells using molecules on the cell surface. We are examining a group of molecules found on the surface of different lymphocytes which bind different sugars, and also to characterised new cell surface molecules that interact with carbohydrates. These studies will examine the structure of the the molecules that interact with with sugars, in order to understand how these give messages to the lymphocyte to trigger various functions that these cell perform in the immune response. We will isolate the genes for these and study their function in greater detail. The cell surface carbohydrate receptors represents several different families of molecules, it is highly likely that these have important roles in the immune response. The potential significance of studying these lymphocyte cell surface molecules is in defining the functional properties of these molecules, the results of which will give us novel insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the generation of immune responses, the mechanism of immuno deficiency and autoimmunity.