This volume brings together recent developments in quasispecies theory extended to variable environments and practical applications in elucidating viral dynamics and treatment designs. In particular, the existence of an error threshold in rugged fitness landscapes has opened the way to a new antiviral strategy termed lethal mutagenesis, which is now under intensive theoretical, experimental and clinical investigation. As such the book explains how an understanding of quasispecies dynamics within infected organisms has increased our knowledge of viral disease events. From a clinical perspective, population dynamics highlights important problems for viral disease control, such as the selection of drug-resistant mutants that often accompanies treatment failures, and suggests means of increasing the effectiveness of antiviral treatments. The book is intended for students and scientists interested in basic and applied aspects of biophysics, chemistry, biology, evolution and medical virology.

Advances in Immunology, a long-established and highly respected publication, presents current developments and comprehensive reviews on immunology. Articles address the wide range of topics that comprise immunology, including molecular and cellular activation mechanisms, phylogeny and molecular evolution, and clinical modalities. Edited and authored by the foremost scientists in the field, each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for the future.

Respiratory diseases are leading causes of death and disability globally, with about 65 million people suffering from COPD, and 334 million from asthma, the most common chronic disease. Each year, tens of millions of people develop and can die from from respiratory infections such as pneumonia and TB. Systemic inflammation may induce and exacerbate local inflammatory diseases in the lungs, and local inflammation can in turn cause systemic inflammation. There is increasing evidence of the coexistence of systemic and local inflammation in patients suffering from asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases, and the co-morbidity of two or more local inflammatory diseases often occurs. For example, rheumatoid arthritis frequently occurs together with, and promotes the development of, pulmonary hypertension. This co-morbidity significantly impacts quality of life, and can result in death for those affected. Current treatment options for lung disease are neither effective, nor condition-specific; there is a desperate need for novel therapeutics in the field. Additionally, the molecular and physiological significance of most major lung diseases is not well understood, which further impedes development of new treatments, especially in the case of coexistent lung diseases with other inflammatory diseases. Great progress has been made in recent years in many areas of the field, particularly in understanding the molecular geneses, regulatory mechanisms, signalling pathways, and cellular processes within lung disease, as well as basic and clinical technology, drug discovery, diagnoses, treatment options, and predictive prognoses. This is the first text to aggregate these developments. In two comprehensive volumes, experts from all over the world present state-of-the-art advances in the study of lung inflammation in health and disease. Contributing authors cover well-known as well as emerging topics in basic, translational, and clinical research, with the aim of providing researchers, clinicians, professionals, and students with new perspectives and concepts. The editors hope these books will also help to direct future research in lung disease and other inflammatory diseases, and result in the development of novel therapeutics.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Rohit Katial, is devoted to Severe Asthma. Articles in this issue include: Epidemiology and Pulmonary Physiology of Severe Asthma; Linkage and Genetic Associations in Severe Asthma; Asthma COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS); Biomarkers in Severe Asthma; Imaging in Severe Asthma; Eosinophilic Phenotype; Neutrophilic and Pauci-immune Phenotypes; Role of Sleep Apnea and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Severe Asthma; Role of Small Airways in Severe Asthma; Chronic Infection and Severe Asthma; Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Aspirin Associated Respiratory Disease; Psychosocial Factors in Severe Asthma; Traditional Therapies for Severe Asthma; and Emerging Biologics for Severe Asthma.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Jonathan A. Bernstein, is devoted to Rhinitis. Articles in this issue include: Rhinitis Subtypes, Endotypes, and Definitions; Allergic Rhinitis: Burden of Illness, Quality of Life and Control; Allergic Rhinitis: Mechanisms of Action; Allergic Rhinitis: Diagnosis; Allergic Rhinitis: Treatment; Non-allergic Rhinitis: Mechanism of Action; Non-allergic Rhinitis: Diagnosis; Non-allergic Rhinitis: Treatment; Localized Allergic Rhinitis; Occupational Rhinitis; Rhinitis in the Elderly; Complications of Rhinitis; Allergic Rhinitis: Environmental Determinants; Non-allergic Rhinitis: Environmental Determinants; and Novel, Alternative, and Controversial Therapies.

Autoimmune neurologic disease results when the immune response to the body s own organs run wild and causes the immune system to attack itself. Autoimmunity is a main element in numerous nervous system diseases and can target any structure within the central or peripheral nervous system. Over the past 20 years significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders including biomarkers has led to new diagnosis and treatment options. Neurologic conditions associated with autoimmune reactions include, dementia, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, sleep disorders, diabetes, and other common neurologic disorders and disease. This current tutorial-reference will be a must-have title for clinical neurologists, research neurologists and neuroscientists, and any medical professional working with autoimmune disease and disorders.

*Comprehensive coverage of autoimmune neurology *Details the latest techniques for the study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders including dementia, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, sleep disorders *A focused reference for clinical practitioners and the clinical neurology and neurology research communities"

Immunologists, perhaps understandably, most often concentrate on the human immune system, an anthropocentric focus that has resulted in a dearth of information about the immune function of all other species within the animal kingdom. However, knowledge of animal immune function could help not only to better understand human immunology, but perhaps more importantly, it could help to treat and avoid the blights that affect animals, which consequently affect humans. Take for example the mass death of honeybees in recent years - their demise, resulting in much less pollination, poses a serious threat to numerous crops, and thus the food supply. There is a similar disappearance of frogs internationally, signaling ecological problems, among them fungal infections. This book aims to fill this void by describing and discussing what is known about non-human immunology. It covers various major animal phyla, its chapters organized in a progression from the simplest unicellular organisms to the most complex vertebrates, mammals. Chapters are written by experts, covering the latest findings and new research being conducted about each phylum. Edwin L. Cooper is a Distinguished Professor in the Laboratory of Comparative Immunology, Department of Neurobiology at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

This volume presents a broad selection of cutting-edge methods and tools that will enable the reader to investigate the multi-faceted manifestations of inflammation. Inflammation: Methods and Protocols is divided into four sections: the first three sections describe protocols investigating immune-mediated inflammatory disease models affecting barrier organs to the environment; the skin, the lung, and the intestinal and oral mucosa. The fourth section illustrates inflammatory disease models of the brain, joints, and vasculature. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Inflammation: Methods and Protocols aims to inspire the experienced investigator and the young experimenter alike to disentangle the fascinating process of inflammation.

Aimed at both beginners and experienced researchers unfamiliar with the technique, this book provides a concise and easy-to-understand guide to using immunohistochemistry. It identifies the proper place and purpose of each component of immunohistochemistry, emphasizes the components that are of critical importance, and explains the logistics of experimental approaches. Understanding the principles of immunohistochemistry allows for the identification and localization of protein targets and is of crucial use in the following experiments: * producing transgenic animals * studying the effects of drug treatments * electrophysiological studies * animal surgery * isolating and differentiating stem cells * super-resolution microscopy Immunohistochemistry for the Non-Expert is aimed at a wide audience, including molecular biologists, pharmacologists, immunologists, chemists, cell biologists, physiologists, and researchers involved with animal anatomy studies.

Mechanism of Action and Rationale for the Use of Biological Response Modifiers, Differentiating Agents and Nucleoside Analogues in Combination: Cytokine Synergy in Immunotherapy (J.W. Hadden et al.). Monitoring Combination Therapy Trials (J.L. Rossio et al.). Combination Chemotherapy and BRM Therapy in the Treatment of Cancer: Cancer Immunochemotherapy (G. Graziani et al.). Combination of Chronic Indomethacin and Intermittent IL2 Therapy in the Treatment of Disseminated Cancer (P.K. Lala et al.). Biological Response Modifiers and Differentiating Agents in Myelodisplastic Syndromes (A. Venditti et al.). Single and Combination Therapy with BRM's in the Treatment of Infectious Diseases, AIDS, and Autoimmunity: AntiCytokine Therapy of Murine Candidiasis (L. Romani et al.). The Basic Research and Clinical Application of Thymopeptidin (C.X. Zheng et al.). Combination AntiHIV Therapy (T.C. Merigan). 22 additional articles. Index.

As bone marrow transplant treatments and chemotherapy develop, the population of neutropenic cancer patients is on the rise. These developments are allowing patients to live longer, but in recent years, they have also led to an increase in previously rare infections and syndromes, whose management is unfamiliar to the average healthcare professional. Infections in Neutropenic Cancer Patients is a crucial resource for medical students, residents, practitioners, health professionals, and researchers. It details the clinical presentation, diagnoses, and management of an array of common infections and syndromes specific to neutropenic cancer patients, including real scenarios accompanied by color photos and radiographic results. Chapters include step-by-step tutorials, access to clinical answers on diagnosis and treatment, and a tabulated summary of the key points.

Multiple Myeloma remains an incurable malignancy. As the disease progresses, it invariably becomes resistant to treatment and almost all patients develop refractory disease. There are multiple different types of targeted therapies and many of them are used in combination at different stages of disease. Targeted therapies that are approved to be used include Proteasome Inhibitors, Immunomodulatory Drugs and Monoclonal Antibodies. Second and third generations of these drugs are developed to overcome resistance and they have unique mechanism of actions. Targeted therapies that are undergoing clinical trials include CAR-T cells, bi-specific antibodies, vaccines, ubiquitin ligase inhibitors and BCL-2 inhibitors. This book will help to develop an understanding of targeted therapies in Multiple Myeloma. Its goal is to provide a unique review of the mechanism of action and resistance of the many targeted therapies in Multiple Myeloma by leaders of the field. The book will be useful for students in medical science, clinicians, health professionals, scientists, pharmaceutical professionals, drug developers, and policy makers. This book will provide an insightful knowledge of the biology of Multiple Myeloma, the mechanism of action and resistance of targeted therapies, application of biomarkers and genomics and possible strategies in overcoming resistance and future development.

Translational Immunology: Mechanisms and Pharmacologic Approaches highlights and summarizes the most important advances in human immunology, clinical translations, new tools to analyze therapeutic targets, and new pharmacological approaches for autoimmunity, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. The book is an essential resource for those seeking to understand the potential translational applications of burgeoning studies in human immunology, helping readers make sense of the existing and emerging scientific advances. The book grounds fundamental science in the translational realm, providing insights from world renowned researchers at the top of their game in their respective fields, in both industry and academic settings. Readers will gain an understanding of the rationale and mechanisms underlying current and emerging pharmacologic approaches for interventional immunology, the gaps therein, and new ideas for better and safer therapeutic approaches, and physicians will glean information about pharmacological limitations in altering disease progression and complications. This reference on the translational realization of the burgeoning findings in immunology provides a go-to reference for experienced professional clinicians, researchers, industry scientists, and those seeking more information on the field.

This book gathers selected peer-reviewed papers presented at the Second International Conference on Infectious Diseases and Nanomedicine (ICIDN), held in Kathmandu, Nepal on December 15-18, 2015. It also includes invited papers from the leading experts in the related fields. The book highlights the importance of "Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research for Innovation in the Biomedical Sciences," the motto of the ICIDN conference. In particular, it addresses interdisciplinary scientific approaches for systematic understanding of the biology of major human infectious diseases and their treatment regimes by applying the tools and techniques of nanotechnology. It also provides cutting-edge information on infectious diseases and nanomedicine, focusing on various aspects of emerging infectious diseases: cellular and molecular microbiology; epidemiology and infectious disease surveillance; antimicrobials, vaccines and alternatives; drug design, drug delivery and tissue engineering; nanomaterials and biomedical materials.

This book describes modern biophysical techniques that enable us to understand and examine dynamic processes of infection at the molecular level. Cutting-edge research articles, laboratory protocols, case studies and up-to-date reviews cover topics such as single-molecule observation of DNA replication repair pathways in E. coli; evolution of drug resistance in bacteria; restriction enzymes as barriers to horizontal gene transfer in Staphylococcus aureus; infectious and bacterial pathogen biofilms; killing infectious pathogens through DNA damage; bacterial surfaces in host-pathogen interactions; bacterial gene regulation by riboswitches; transcription regulation in enterobacterial pathogens; the bacterial flagellar motor; initial surface colonization by bacteria; Salmonella Typhi host restrictions; as well as monitoring proton motive force in bacteria; microbial pathogens using digital holography; mathematical modelling of microbial pathogen motility; neutron reflectivity in studying bacterial membranes; force spectroscopy in studying infection and 4D multi-photon imaging to investigate immune responses. The focus is on the development and application of complex techniques and protocols at the interface of life sciences and physics, which increase the physiological relevance of biophysical investigations.

Personalized Immunosuppression in Transplantation: Role of Biomarker Monitoring and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring provides coverage of the various approaches to monitoring immunosuppressants in transplant patients, including the most recently developed biomarker monitoring methods, pharmacogenomics approaches, and traditional therapeutic drug monitoring. The book is written for pathologists, toxicologists, and transplant surgeons who are involved in the management of transplant patients, offering them in-depth coverage of the management of immunosuppressant therapy in transplant patients with the goal of maximum benefit from drug therapy and minimal risk of drug toxicity. This book also provides practical guidelines for managing immunosuppressant therapy, including the therapeutic ranges of various immunosuppressants, the pitfalls of methodologies used for determination of these immunosuppressants in whole blood or plasma, appropriate pharmacogenomics testing for organ transplant recipients, and when biomarker monitoring could be helpful.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, Guest Edited by Anthony Montanaro, MD, is devoted to Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders. Dr. Montanaro has assembled a group of expert authors to review the following topics: Overview of Immunodeficiency Disorder; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder; Specific Antibody Deficiencies; Common Variable Immunodeficiency; Pulmonary Manifestations of Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders; Approach to the Child with Recurrent Infections; Immunoglobulin Treatment for Primary Immunodeficiency; Bone Marrow Transplantation for Primary Immunodeficiency; and Autoimmune Manifestations of Primary Immunodeficiency.

This volume provides all the essential protocols that are currently used to study the immune synapse. Chapters in The Immune Synapse: Methods and Protocols cover methods for the study of the dynamics of immune synapse assembly, traffic at the immune synapse, new high resolution imaging, biophysical and computational methods for the study of the immune synapse, effector immune synapses, B cell, NK and mast cell immune synapses, and immune interactions in vivo. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, The Immune Synapse: Methods and Protocols will be of interest to immunologists and, at a more general level, to cell biologists, biophysicists and computational biologists.

This work provides rapid access to focused information on topics of Immunotoxicology not only for scientists and those dealing with laboratory aspects but also for lecturers and advanced students. Over 200 contributing authors - including many of the world's top specialists - have contributed full essays on all relevant topics, supplemented by keyword definitions of related terms. Full essays are structured uniformly to provide reader-friendly information on all aspects of Immunotoxicology, including methods of testing and analysis, characteristics of substances, the regulatory environment and the relevance of these to humans.

Twenty years ago, the idea that Alzheimer's disease (AD) involved any sort of inflammatory or immune component seemed implausible. Now, there are hundreds of laboratories world-wide that are pursuing basic research in this area, and multi-site clinical trials are underway. How this dramatic sea-change came about is made clear in this book, both through overviews of the field and through focused papers on specific topics of recent interest. Complement, cytokines and the complex host of other acute phase reactants are covered, as are summaries of many epidemiologic and clinical-pathological findings. Written by established investigators who have led neuroinflammatory research for two decades, this volume particularly emphasizes correlations between inflammatory phenomena in the brains of AD patients with findings of the "classic" approach, such as pathophysiologic effects of amyloid b peptide. The book documents and synthesizes earlier and recent findings in AD to help a broad range of scientists in gaining a broader and more comprehensive knowledge of the complexities AD presents. In addition, many of the concepts and results that have emerged from AD inflammation research may have implications for other neurologic disorders that involve inflammatory components, including multiple sclerosis and stroke.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, Guest Edited by Amy D. Klion, MD and Princess U. Ogbogu, MD, is devoted to Eosinophil-Associated Disorders. Drs. Klion and Ogbogu have assembled a group of expert authors to review the following topics: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis of Persistent Marked Eosinophilia; Spectrum of Eosinophilic End Organ Manifestations; Eosinophilia in GI disorders; Eosinophilia in Hematologic Disorders; Eosinophilia in Rheumatologic/Vascular Disorders; Eosinophilia in Pulmonary Disorders; Eosinophilia in Infectious Diseases; Eosinophilia associated with Immune Deficiency and Immune Dysregulation; Eosinophilia in Dermatologic disorders; Management of Hypereosinophilic Syndromes; and Novel Therapies for Eosinophilic Disorders.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately one third of the world's population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb [LTBI]), of whom about 9 million have active tuberculosis (TB). It is estimated that approximately 2 million individuals die each year from active TB. An estimated 14.4% of these individuals have HIV and M. tb co-infection. TB has long been known to be one of the leading causes of death in HIV-infected individuals. Recent evidence now indicates that individuals with type 2 diabetes, the elderly, and chronic smokers are also increasingly susceptible to TB infection, the ability of their immune system to fight off active TB infection having been compromised by their condition. This book therefore aims to provide a detailed review of recent advances in the research that involves characterizing the host's immune responses against TB infection in conditions such as HIV, diabetes, chronic cigarette smoking and aging, and strategies to restore favorable immune responses against this deadly pathogen.