A molecular "on-off" switch that controls immune system response to viruses has been identified by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. They found that when the hepatitis C virus enters the human body, the virus switches on immune system defenses. But the virus can turn off those defenses by manipulating the interactions of certain cellular proteins called RIG-1 and LGP2. This same "on-off" switch controls immune system response against many kinds of viruses, and the switch may... read full review »