Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are signaling molecules that recognize different microbial products during infection and serve as an important link between the innate and adaptive immune responses. These proteins act through adaptor molecules such as MyD88 and TIRAP to activate various kinases and transcription factors. TLR7, like TLRs 3, 8, and 9, is localized in intracellular acidic compartments such as the phagolysosome and will recognize some single-stranded RNA viruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and influenza virus. Activation of TLR7 by VSV results in stimulation of the immune response including IFNa secretion, suggesting the importance of TLR7 in virus recognition.Synonyms: Toll-like receptor 7