Primitive species are capable of recognition and defence, thus lessons learned from them can provide a basis for understanding strategies that vertebrate animals have adopted. The papers in this volume explore the mechanisms of multicellular organisms used to distinguish between self and non-self in response to parasitism or infection. Studies of these mechanisms used by primitive species for their defences have extensive implications for understanding the evolution of immunity and problems of human health and disease.
Primitive species are capable of recognition and defence, thus lessons learned from them can provide a basis for understanding strategies that vertebrate animals have adopted. The papers in this volume explore the mechanisms of multicellular organisms used to distinguish between self and non-self in response to parasitism or infection. Studies of these mechanisms used by primitive species for their defences have extensive implications for understanding the evolution of immunity and problems of human health and disease.
This book discusses the evolutionary origin of immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors. The complex interactions between B and T cells in response to external antigens are the major focus of contemporary immunology. This book argues that these interactions may be relatively late evolutionary developments, due to the redeployment of a system invented for other reasons. In other words immunoglobulins did not arise in evolution to fight infection. The author theorizes that the system of variable region moleculars (VRM) arose at the time of the first vertebrates by an endogenous, self-organizing process. This primordial VRM system instituted a molecular ecology, a function so vital that from then on no vertebrate has been able to do without it.
Lessons in Immunity: From Single-cell Organisms to Mammals stems from the activity of the Italian Association of Developmental and Comparative Immunobiology (IADCI), represented by the editors. This book is presented as a series of short overviews that report on the current state of various relevant fields of immunobiology from an evolutionary perspective. The overviews are written by authors directly involved in the research, and most are members of the IADCI or have otherwise been involved in the related research for their respective overview. This publication offers scientists and teachers an easy and updated reference tool. - Provides simple and updated reviews on the immunobiology of a wide spectrum of organisms, considered in an evolutionary context - Focuses on both cells and humoral components of a variety of non-classical model organisms - Offers in a single volume many contributions which can help with understanding the evolution of immune responses and the main adaptations in animal phyla - Presents a valuable holistic cross-sectional approach for teaching immunology and its applications
This book contains the proceedings of the first meeting on invertebrate immunity ever sponsored as a summer research conference by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). The conference was held in Copper Mountain, CO from July 11-16, 1999. It was a an extension of a New York Academy of Sciences meeting entitled "Primordial Immunity: Foundations for the Vertebrate Immune System" held on May 2-5,1993 at the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, MA. The proceedings of that meeting were published in The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (volume 712). At that meeting all the attendes agreed that this type of conference (a relatively small focused gathering) allowed for participation by investigators at all levels of their careers. We further agreed that we should search for a forum that would allow this meeting to continue. The FASEB Summer Research Conference was an excellent vehicle for this type of meeting. Furthermore, this year's participants decided to continue this meeting as a regularly scheduled FASEB sponsored event. This was a unique conference in the sense that it focused upon mechanisms of development and defense in protostome and deuterostome invertebrates and lower vertebrates. There was a strong emphasis on evolutionary cell biology, phylogenetic inferences and the evolution of recognition and regulatory systems.
The second edition of Avian Immunology provides an up-to-date overview of the current knowledge of avian immunology. From the ontogeny of the avian immune system to practical application in vaccinology, the book encompasses all aspects of innate and adaptive immunity in chickens. In addition, chapters are devoted to the immunology of other commercially important species such as turkeys and ducks, and to ecoimmunology summarizing the knowledge of immune responses in free-living birds often in relation to reproductive success. The book contains a detailed description of the avian innate immune system, encompassing the mucosal, enteric, respiratory and reproductive systems. The diseases and disorders it covers include immunodepressive diseases and immune evasion, autoimmune diseases, and tumors of the immune system. Practical aspects of vaccination are examined as well. Extensive appendices summarize resources for scientists including cell lines, inbred chicken lines, cytokines, chemokines, and monoclonal antibodies. The world-wide importance of poultry protein for the human diet, as well as the threat of avian influenza pandemics like H5N1 and heavy reliance on vaccination to protect commercial flocks makes this book a vital resource. This book provides crucial information not only for poultry health professionals and avian biologists, but also for comparative and veterinary immunologists, graduate students and veterinary students with an interest in avian immunology. - With contributions from 33 of the foremost international experts in the field, this book provides the most up-to-date review of avian immunology so far - Contains a detailed description of the avian innate immune system reviewing constitutive barriers, chemical and cellular responses; it includes a comprehensive review of avian Toll-like receptors - Contains a wide-ranging review of the "ecoimmunology" of free-living avian species, as applied to studies of population dynamics, and reviews methods and resources available for carrying out such research
In An Introduction to Immunology, the author includes the most recent information while emphasizing the basic fundamentals of each topic so that you obtain a broad outline of the subject. The text elucidates fundamental concepts, such as the origin of the immune system, innate and acquired immunity, and cells and organs of the immune system. It discusses recent concepts and ideas regarding innate and acquired immunity, T-cell and B-cell activation and differentiation mechanisms, factors involved in rheumatoid arthritis, T-cell clonal anergy, NK cell receptors, strategies in production of new vaccines against pathogens, new information on the minor histocompatibility complex, and much more. Moreover, the author brings you up to date with the latest developments by reviewing recently proposed concepts on transplantation immunology, blocking of costimulatory signals, CTLA-4 mediated T-cell inhibition, immune tolerance, NK cell tolerance, HLA delivered peptides for immunosuppression, and tumor antigens coded by oncogens. Covering subject matter based on the immunology course taught by the author for the past twenty years, Introduction to Immunology is an excellent text for graduate and postgraduate students, as well as a good reference book for teachers of biological sciences.
Immunology: A Short Course, 7th Edition introduces all the critical topics of modern immunology in a clear and succinct yet comprehensive fashion. The authors offer uniquely-balanced coverage of classical and contemporary approaches and basic and clinical aspects. The strength of Immunology: A Short Course is in providing a complete review of modern immunology without the burden of excessive data or theoretical discussions. Each chapter is divided into short, self-contained units that address key topics, illustrated by uniformly drawn, full-color illustrations and photographs. This new edition of Immunology: A Short Course: • Has been fully revised and updated, with a brand new art program to help reinforce learning • Includes a new chapter on Innate Immunity to reflect the growth in knowledge in this area • Highlights important therapeutic successes resulting from targeted antibody therapies • Includes end of chapter summaries and review questions, a companion website at www.wileyimmunology.com/coico featuring interactive flashcards, USMLE-style interactive MCQs, figures as PowerPoint slides, and case-based material to help understand clinical applications
