IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Innate immune responses to mirror molecules

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Video Summary

The speaker explains how a “mirror bacterium” might interact with human immunity. Because many immune receptors and enzymes are chiral, they may fail to recognize or break down mirror molecules, reducing barrier defense, pathogen sensing, inflammation, and phagocyte killing. Some defenses may still work, including complement, antimicrobial peptides, and certain glycan interactions, but their effectiveness is uncertain. Mirror bacteria could still survive on achiral nutrients in the body and may evade many normal immune responses. The talk suggests such infections might resemble severe human immune deficiencies, leading to invasive disease despite treatment.

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Date April 16, 2026 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM

Room 153C

Session Immune responses to mirror molecules and organisms, Sponsored by the Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund (MBDF)

Speaker Jolien Sweere

Track Innate Immune Responses and Host Defense: Cellular Mechanisms (INC)

Year 2026

Keywords

mirror bacterium

human immunity

chiral receptors

immune evasion

invasive disease

April 16, 2026 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM

153C

Immune responses to mirror molecules and organisms, Sponsored by the Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund (MBDF)

Jolien Sweere

Innate Immune Responses and Host Defense: Cellular Mechanisms (INC)

2026