Immune Activation by Bacterial DNA: A New Genetic Code

Abstract

DNA is a molecule whose structural microheterogeneity encodes enormous information. Most of the information is complex as it conveys instructions for the precise structure and regulation of thousands of genes. Some of this information is simple, however, and provides in a direct and binary code data for the immune system to make the self–nonself discrimination. The extent to which the immune system uses this information is at present unknown, but the coming years should be intriguing as evidence is gathered to assess this unexpected potential of DNA.