Fig. 1

Biology of phosphatidylserine (PS). Included in this figure is a summary of the articles included in this thematic series broken down themes. “The ins and Outs”: Shlomovitz et al. describe the externalization of PS in a caspase-independent form of cell death called Necroptosis, and the immunological consequences that accompany this process. Kay et al. summarize the synthesis, transport, and intrinsic functions that PS serves within eukaryotic cells. “A Pathogen’s Proclivity”: Chua et al. discuss the tendency of virions, notably HIV, to externalize PS on their surface and how apoptotic mimicry influences viral entry and downstream immunological signaling. Wanderley et al. distinguish between Classical and Non-classical apoptotic mimicry in the context of protozoan infection and disease progression. “Exposure and Exploitation”: Burstyn-Cohen et al. characterize the PS-receptor family Tyro3, Axl, Mertk (TAM) as well as its bridging ligands, Gas6 and Pros1, and their implication in immunomodulation in cancer. Dayoub et al. discuss the repertoire of PS-targeting mAbs that are in pre-clinical and clinical development to block pathogenic PS signaling and stimulate an anti-tumor response. N’Guessan et al. describe a novel PS targeting modality that involves Saposin C containing DOPS vesicles, which target to PS externalizing cells in cancer in order to initiate a ceramide-mediated cell death program