Forward genetic dissection of innate response to infection in inbred mouse strains: selected success stories

Mouse genetics is a powerful tool for the dissection of genes, proteins, and pathways important in biological processes. Application of this approach to study the host response to infection has been a rich source of discoveries that have increased our understanding of the early innate pathways involved in responding to microbial infections. Here we review some of the key discoveries that have arisen from pinpointing the genetic defect in mouse strains with unusual or extreme response to infection and have led to insights into pathogen sensing pathways and downstream effector functions of the early innate immune response.