Deciphering the immune complexity that orchestrates T cell activation

适应性免疫系统由一个复杂的细胞网络组成，可以有效地区分外源性所需的输入，如营养素，以及那些潜在有害的输入，如病原体。这种“敌友”区分有其分子基础，在众多的受体与特定的配体的特异性。然而，至关重要的是，目前尚不清楚如何在职能一级对这种歧视进行机械管制。我们已经开发了新的和复杂的实验模型，这将使我们能够系统地剖析和揭示适应性免疫系统的复杂性，并解决这一关键的知识差距。预期成果将极大地促进我们对基本生物学原理的普遍理解。

The adaptive immune system consists of a complex cellular network that can efficiently distinguish exogenous required inputs, such as nutrients, from those that are potentially harmful like pathogens. Such ‘friend-foe’ discrimination has its molecular basis in a multitude of receptors with specificity to certain ligands. Critically, however, it is unclear how such discrimination is mechanistically regulated at the functional level. We have developed new and sophisticated experimental models that will allow us to systematically dissect and unfold the complexity of the adaptive immune system and address this critical knowledge gap. Expected outcomes will critically advance our general understanding of a fundamental biological principle.