●Microorganisms as triggers of autoimmunity: making the barren field fertile? Von Herrath, M. G. et al. Nature Reviews Microbiology November (2003)

●Tuberculosis: a problem with persistence. Stewart, G. R. et al. Nature Reviews Microbiology November (2003)

●LFA-1: more than just T cell velcro. Shimizu, Y. Nature Immunology November (2003) LFA1 is crucial in the interaction between T cells and antigen-presenting cells during T-cell activation and has traditionally been considered an adhesion molecule. New work indicates that LFA1 can also induce signals that promote the activation and differentiation of T cells.

●Magnetic pioneers net Nobel for putting medicine in the picture. Pearson, H. Nature 9 October (2003) This news article reviews the pioneering work of Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield that led to the development of magnetic resonance imaging, and discusses why this work has been awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

●Cytostatic and apoptotic actions of TGF-β in homeostasis and cancer. Siegel, P. M. & Massagué, J. Nature Reviews Cancer November (2003) Loss of sensitivity to the growth restraints imposed by transforming-growth factor-β (TGF-β) causes hyperproliferation and is common in tumour cells, which then often overproduce TGF-β to generate a local immunosuppressive microenvironment that favours tumour growth and metastasis. In this review, the role of TGF-β in regulating cancer progression and its potential as a therapeutic target are discussed.

●New targets for allergic rhinitis — a disease of civilization. Holgate, S. T. & Broide, D. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery November (2003) This review discusses new immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of allergic rhinitis — an inflammatory disorder associated with the production of allergen-specific IgE. These approaches include using monoclonal antibodies and vaccine strategies to block IgE and recombinant mutated allergens and peptides to induce tolerance to the allergen.

●The latest killer AP. Del Val, M. & Yewdell, J. W. Nature Immunology November (2003) Type 2 Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome causes immunodeficiency and results, in most cases, from a mutation in the gene encoding the adaptor protein AP3. In this News & Views article, the mechanism by which AP3 deficiency impairs the immune response, in particular the inability of CD8+ T cells to release lytic granules, is discussed.