Opinion: Interpretation of the complexity of innate immune responses by functional genomics

Abstract

Understanding how the immune system is regulated and responds to pathogens will require whole-system approaches, because the study of single immunological parameters has, so far, been unable to unlock immune-system complexity. Global transcription analysis using microarray technologies provides a new approach to the description of complex biological phenomena. Here, we discuss insights into innate immunity that have been provided by genome-wide approaches and their impact on the interpretation of immune-system complexity.