Biodefense strategies require protection against a broad and largely unforeseen spectrum of
pathogens—the forte of innate immune system defenses—that have evolved over millennia
to function within moments of encountering either ancient or newly emerging pathogens.
Although constitutive, the innate immune system is activated by the presence of microbes or
their products, providing a rationale for a potential biodefense strategy. Both prophylactic
and postexposure strategies involving innate immune stimulation have been shown to be …