Cellular Immunology Project, Section of physiology and cell biology

Immune cells rely on information conveyed by fragments of intracellular components being presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the cell surface. Many pathogens are too large to be recognized directly by immune cells, and must first be digested into smaller fragments (peptides) that can be presented by specialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages.

Cancer immunotherapy attempts to harness the power and specificity of the immune system to treat tumors. The molecular identification of cancer-specific antigens has allowed the development of antigen-specific personalized immunotherapy. Due to their properties, DCs are often called 'nature's adjuvants' and thus have become a leading vehicle for antigen delivery