Dr Jan Rehwinkel talks about the role of our innate immune system in our fight against flu virus. The innate immune response is critical for a successful defence against viral infection. The first arm of our immune response is triggered by the detection of the presence of the virus: cell surface receptors detect the presence of viral genomic information. Dr Jan Rehwinkel is working to dissect the molecular biology of nucleic acid sensors. A better understanding of these mechanisms might help us develop better vaccination strategies.