A study of mast cells and basophils, designed for the use of immunologists, biochemists and medical researchers. Detailed chapters cover all aspects of mast cell and basophil research, from cell development, proteases, histamine, cysteinyl leukotrienes, physiology and pathology to the role of these cells in health and disease. Chapters also discuss the clinical implications of histamine receptor antagonists.

This volume combines protocols that encompass the true variety of investigation done on superantigens in the fields of microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and cellular biology, with a strong focus on disease models utilized to determine the role of superantigens in human disease. 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. Thorough and cutting-edge, Superantigens: Methods and Protocols contains a detailed and wide breadth of subject coverage that any scientist, clinician, or industry professional interested in this field will find valuable.

Recent years have seen unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza A viruses. In particular, highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses have not only resulted in widespread outbreaks in domestic poultry, but have been transmitted to humans, resulting in numerous fatalities. The rapid expansion in their geographic distribution and the possibility that these viruses could acquire the ability to spread from person to person raises the risk that such a virus could cause a global pandemic with high morbidity and mortality. An effective influenza vaccine represents the best approach to prevent and control such an emerging pandemic. However, current influenza vaccines are directed at existing seasonal influenza viruses, which have little or no antigenic relationship to the highly pathogenic H5N1 strains. Concerns about pandemic preparedness have greatly stimulated research activities to develop eff- tive vaccines for pandemic influenza viruses, and to overcome the limitations inh- ent in current approaches to vaccine production and distribution. These limitations include the use of embryonated chicken eggs as the substrate for vaccine prod- tion, which is time-consuming and could involve potential biohazards in growth of new virus strains. Other limitations include the requirement that the current inac- vated influenza vaccines be administered using needles and syringes, requiring trained personnel, which could be a bottleneck when attempting to vaccinate large populations in mass campaigns. In addition, the current inactivated vaccines that are delivered by injection elicit limited protective immunity in the upper respiratory tract where the infection process is initiated.

Comparative Mammalian Immunology: The Evolution and Diversity of the Immune Systems of Mammals provides a review on the current knowledge of mammalian immune systems from a comparative viewpoint. This reference encompasses recent work on the immune systems of marine mammals, bats and marsupials in addition to other lesser-known species, with the immune systems of humans and laboratory mice as components of chapters on primates and rodents respectively. The book also makes use of the most recent studies on the genomic sequences of the mammals to identify both common and unique features of each mammal's immune system. The book elucidates the complex, but coordinated and controlled series of interactions involving cells and molecules that has evolved to protect the host against disease. Mammals consist of a highly diverse group of animals in which the immune system has been subjected to a variety of selective pressures. This is reflected in differences in the organization and function of their immune systems, and is especially seen in those gene families characterized by complexity and polymorphism.

Mammalian reovirus had been the major focus for molecular understanding of the Reoviridae and has served as a model system for the other members of the family. Indeed, most of our initial understanding of molecular biology and processes involved in virus replication and pathogenesis for the members of the family was generated from reovirus studies. With this platform two other members of the family causing disease in human and/or animals have gained in prominence and the molecular interactions from a structural level through to host-virus interactions as well as the function of the structural and non-structural proteins in the virus life cycle has been investigated in detail.

This book reviews our current understanding of Reoviridae entry, disassembly/assembly and egress in addition to updating high resolution structures of virus proteins and capsids from three different genera of the family.

Immunoassay techniques have become essential in various fields of pure and applied research. This volume of the well known "Laboratory Techniques" series will be of assistance to those who have plans or are making efforts to develop ultrasensitive enzyme immunoassays for antigens and antibodies.
The volume describes factors limiting the sensitivity of noncompetitive solid phase enzyme immunoassays, methods to overcome difficulties limiting sensitivities, methods to perform ultrasensitive enzyme immunoassays as rapidly as possible, and protocols of enzyme labeling and enzyme assays as well as ultrasensitive enzyme immunoassays.
"Ultrasensitive and Rapid Enzyme Immunoassay, " with its clear presentation and up-to-date information, will be essential to scientists in pharmaceutical companies and in applied research.

Over the past decade, we have made great advances in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS) research, and this book focuses on those advances in MS pathogenesis and treatment. While some of these advances have been through new approaches and ideas that have emerged in the last decade such as the newly identified protective role that amyloid proteins may play in MS or the use of helminths to treat autoimmune diseases, others have evolved from previous theories and ideas that have only now gained momentum and a deeper understanding such as the role of HLA or gender in MS susceptibility. This book covers these emerging and evolving topics and highlights the substantial advancements made in elucidation of the factors regulating susceptibility or disease progression, identification of new ways to monitor or predict MS pathology, and development of new strategies for treating MS.

As the research has continued, it has become increasingly clear that natural killer (NK) cells are critical sentinels of the innate immune response, playing important roles in protecting the body from numerous pathogens and cancer in addition to contributing to normal pregnancy and impacting the outcomes of transplantation. While the first edition provided a valuable collection of classical cellular and in vivo techniques to study NK cell functions, the Second Edition of "Natural Killer Cell Protocols: Cellular and Molecular Methods" brings together more recently developed methods, more refined techniques, and detailed protocols designed to study NK cells within specialized tissue sites in both mice and humans. In this collection of methods, international leaders in the field cover topics ranging from the analysis of the various stages of NK cell development and maturation to specialized techniques for the identification of ligands for NK cell receptors. This volume also includes an appendix, providing a rich resource summarizing available reagents to study NK cells, cross-referencing KIR nomenclature, and detailing the many HLA ligands for various KIR family members. As a volume 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 thorough notes sections, highlighting tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Comprehensive and cutting-edge, "Natural Killer Cell Protocols: Cellular and Molecular Methods, Second Edition" seeks to aid researchers and further advance our understanding of the functions, maturation, and regulation of these fascinating and dynamic cells."

lnflammatory reactions are generated in response to extemal and intemal stimuli, such as infection, trauma, clinical insult or dysregulation of the umnune system. The int1ammatory responses may bc antigen-specific or non-specific, local or systemic, chronic or rapid and severe, characterized by a massive release of mediators, often lethal. The aim of this book is to review selectcd aspects associated with the mechanism of the pathology of int1ammatory processes of ditlerent origin and to evaluate therapeutic strategies aimed at combating various inflamma- tory diseases. The introductory article describcs the inmlllnological status of patients with severe sepsis, with particular attention paid to the roJe of circulating neutrophils. Intcgrin activation and chemokine receptor expression and the roles of IL-15, prostaglandins and leukotriens in inflmmnation and immunity are the subjects of next articles. Subsequent reviews are focused on allergic diseases involving mast cells and Th2 type cytokines, in particular the mech- anisms of atopic dennatitis and signaling hy IL-13. The intlmmnatory responscs elicited by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mvcobacferium nviwn are also analyzed with special interest paid to the mechanisms which allow the bacteria to escape the host' s immune reactions. The thcrapeutic potential of IL- I 0 in infection and inflammation and thc possible factors contributing to the devclopment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are rcvicwed in the next articles. The final report demonstrates the advantages of bacteriophage ther- apy in thc context of the aggravating problem of hactcrial resistance to antibi- otics.

Microbial cell wall structures play a significant role in maintaining cells' shape, as protecting layers against harmful agents, in cell adhesion and in positive and negative biological activities with host cells. All prokaryotes, whether they are bacteria or archaea, rely on their surface polymers for these multiple functions. Their surfaces serve as the indispensable primary interfaces between the cell and its surroundings, often mediating or catalyzing important interactions.

"Prokaryotic Cell Wall Compounds" summarizes the current state of knowledge on the prokaryotic cell wall. Topics concerning bacterial and archaeal polymeric cell wall structures, biological activities, growth and inhibition, cell wall interactions and the applications of cell wall components, especially in the field of nanobiotechnology, are presented.

Volume 47 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains eight reviews and the various indexes which facilitate its use and establish the connection with the previous volumes. The articles in this volume deal with inotropic steroids, with chemokines and their involvement in a wide range of inflam matory diseases, with the subclassification and nomenclature of ul- and Uz-adrenoceptors, with Chinese traditional medicine, with drug targets in the molecular pathogenesis of asthma, with cytokines and their therapeutic application in immunosuppression and immunostimulation, with alter native medicine and with the potential use of calcium blockers in psy chiatry. These reviews and the quotations of original articles provide the reader with valuable information on several new developments in the world-wide search for new and better medicines. In 1959, when the Editor started this series of monographs, it was his intention to help disseminate informa tion on the vast and fast growing domain of drug research. Already at that time,it was not possible to follow the major individual publications in this field, and the reader was thereby provided with a tool to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends. This goal remained unchanged over the last 37 years, and I believe that the reviews in PDR are useful to the non-specialist who can obtain an overview of a particular field of drug research in a relatively short time.

The immune system is not bound by a single tissue but is instead bestowed with the challenge of warding off invading pathogens throughout the body. Constant surveillance of the body requires that the immune system be highly mobile and able to purge pathogens from all tissues. Because each tissue presents its own unique architecture and milieu, it is necessary for the immune system to be as malleable as it is dynamic. For example, how the immune system handles a pathogen in the lung can differ significantly from a pathogen encountered in the gut.

Understanding immune complexity in diverse tissue environments is a challenge for researchers. However, advances in imaging have greatly improved our ability to probe the immune system. From snap-shots in time to 4D movies, imaging systems have been used to generate stunning visualizations of immune cells in action throughout the body. These visualizations are not only aesthetically pleasing but they have yielded great advances in our understanding of immune function. This volume provides a synopsis of major insights in immunology revealed using imaging approaches. "Seeing is truly believing," and this volume was assembled to recognize past accomplishments and to provide visions of what the future holds in store in this exciting field.

The ?eld of cellular responses to DNA damage has attained widespread recognition and interest in recent years commensurate with its fundamental role in the ma- tenance of genomic stability. These responses, which are essential to preventing cellular death or malignant transformation, are organized into a sophisticated s- tem designated the "DNA damage response". This system operates in all living organisms to maintain genomic stability in the face of constant attacks on the DNA from a variety of endogenous by-products of normal metabolism, as well as exogenous agents such as radiation and toxic chemicals in the environment. The response repairs DNA damage via an intricate cellular signal transduction network that coordinates with various processes such as regulation of DNA replication, tr- scriptional responses, and temporary cell cycle arrest to allow the repair to take place. Defects in this system result in severe genetic disorders involving tissue degeneration, sensitivity to speci?c damaging agents, immunode?ciency, genomic instability, cancer predisposition and premature aging. The ?nding that many of the crucial players involved in DNA damage response are structurally and functionally conserved in different species spurred discoveries of new players through similar analyses in yeast and mammals. We now understand the chain of events that leads to instantaneous activation of the massive cellular responses to DNA lesions. This book summarizes several new concepts in this rapidly evolving ?eld, and the advances in our understanding of the complex network of processes that respond to DNA damage.

This is the first volume in a series that will be dedicated to publishing advances in immunomics particularly those focusing on systemic and integrative approaches in basic and clinical immunology, immunoinformatics, and immunologically relevant instrumentation and high-throughput screening methods.

Immunoinformatics utilizes mathematics, information science, computer engineering, genomics, proteomics and immunological methods to bridge immunology and informatics. Ten expert reviews introduce bioinformaticians and immunologists alike to successfully applied data-driven strategies in MHC, TCR, peptide-MHC and allergen research, epitope prediction, de-immunization of therapeutic proteins, host-pathogen interactions, modeling of immune responses to pathogens and large-scale chemical mutagenesis-driven genetic analyses systems. In contrast to existing books on immunoinformatics which emphasize epitope prediction this volume presents a cross-section of immunoinformatic research. The contributions show the interdisciplinarity of the field and how collaborative efforts among bioinformaticians and a oebench scientistsa result in innovative strategies towards understanding the immune system.

a oeImmunoinformaticsa is an ideal volume for scientists, researchers, students and professionals in the fields of Immunology, bioinformatics, microbiology, genetics, systems biology, biotechnology, computational biology.

Established for almost 30 years, Methods in Microbiology is the most prestigious series devoted to techniques and methodology in the field. Now totally revamped, revitalized, with a new format and expanded scope, Methods in Microbiology will continue to provide you with tried and tested, cutting-edge protocols to directly benefit your research.
Immunology of Infection, edited by two of the foremost figures in the field, presents the most appropriate, up-to-date techniques in the detail you require. The layout is structured for ease of reference, and the volume will be essential reading for all researchers working in microbiology, immunology, virology, mycology, and parasitology.
The new volume provides a carefully selected collection of immunological techniques for the microbiologist wishing to study host-pathogen relationships "in vivo" and "in vitro." This multi-authored book has succeeded in bringing together experts from various fields of molecular and cellular immunology who provide ready-to-use recipes for the "ex vivo" and "in vitro" analysis of anti-infective immunity.
Key Features
* Focuses on the methods most useful for the microbiologist interested in analysing host-pathogen relationships
* Ready-to-use, tried and tested recipes
* Lists of suppliers provided as appendices to each chapter
* Covers techniques useful for the analysis of human and murine cells
* Includes techniques for the prediction and determination of MHC ligands and T cell epitopes
* Describes the art and science of DNA vaccines
* Essential methods for measuring human cytokine responses
* Covers isolation and propagation of dendritic cells

This comprehensive book explores the role of cytokines in immunotoxicology and human health using a variety of complex methods, from basic research to highly applied therapeutic applications. It includes a basic study of cytokines and details the effects of cytokines on the immune system and in treating cancer. The book serves as both a primer and a starting point for a more detailed investigation of the role these biological regulators play.

It has been known for a number of years that not only pathogenicity islands but also plasmids and bacteriophages are able to carry genes whose products are involved in pathogenic processes. Accordingly, such elements and their products play an important role in pathogenesis due to the intestinal E. coli as well due to Shigellae. Another interesting aspect which is reflected in different articles is that genomes evolve by acquisition of new pieces of DNA following gene transfer, but also by genome reduction. Different mechanisms include the deletion of sequences or the elimination of functions by the accumulation of point mutations or rearrangements.

A team of expert investigators and clinical researchers comprehensively review complement's basic biology, its role in disease, methods to measure its activity, and strategies for its inhibition in patients. Each chapter focuses on a specific area of basic and applied complement biology, spelling out the activation pathways and complement receptors. Informative animal models are discussed in detail, including the relative values of each model and the important interspecies differences that can distort the interpretation of preclinical studies. The emphasis throughout is on the pros and cons of the therapeutic use of recombinant complement inhibitors in specific diseases. Cutting-edge and innovative, Therapeutic Interventions in the Complement System highlights for today's researcher and biotechnologist effective strategies of drug discovery and development that are producing valuable new complement inhibitors for the treatment of a wide variety of clinically important diseases.

The Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) is an organelle with extraordinary signaling and homeostatic functions. It is the organelle responsible for protein folding, maturation, quality control and trafficking of proteins destined for the plasma membrane or for secretion into the extracellular environment. Failure, overloading or malfunctioning of any of the signaling or quality control mechanisms occurring in the ER may provoke a stress condition known as ER stress . Accumulating evidence indicates that ER stress may dramatically perturb interactions between the cell and its environment, and contribute to the development of human diseases, ranging from metabolic diseases and cancer to neurodegenerative diseases, or impact therapeutic outcome. This book primarily focuses on the pathophysiology of ER stress. It introduces the molecular bases of ER stress, the emerging relevance of the ER-mitochondria cross-talk, the signaling pathways engaged and cellular responses to ER stress, including the adaptive Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), autophagy as well as cell death. Next the book addresses the role of ER stress in physiology and in the etiology of relevant pathological conditions, like carcinogenesis and inflammation, neurodegeneration and metabolic disease. The last chapter describes how ER stress pathways can be targeted for therapeutic benefit. Altogether, this book will provide the reader with an exhaustive view of ER stress biology and the latest insights in the role of ER stress in relevant human diseases."

Engineered antibodies currently represent over 30% of biopharmaceuticals in clinical trials and their total worldwide sales continue to increase significantly. The importance of antibody applications is reflected in their increasing clinical and industrial applications as well as in the progression of established and emerging production strategies. This volume provides detailed coverage of the generation, optimization, characterization, production and applications of antibody. It provides the necessary theoretical background and description of methods for the expression of antibody in microbial and animal cell cultures and in transgenic animals and plants. There is a strong focus on those issues related to the production of intrabodies, bispecific antibody and antibody fragments and also to novel applications in cancer immunotherapy.

These proceedings contain selected contributions from the participants to the Fourth International Symposium on Dendritic cells that was held in Venice (Lido) Italy, from Oc tober 5 to 10, 1996. The symposium was attended by more than 500 scientists coming from 24 different countries. Studies on dendritic cells (DC) have been greatly hampered by the difficulties in preparing sufficient cell numbers and in a reasonable pure form. At this meeting it has been shown that large quantities of DC can be generated from precursors in both mice and humans, and this possibility has enormously encouraged studies aimed to characterize DC physiology and DC-specific genes, and to employ DC therapeutically as adjuvants for im munization. The possibility of generating large numbers of autologous DC that can be used in the manipulation of the immune response against cancer and infectious diseases has tremendously boosted dendritic cell research and the role of DC in a number of medi cal areas has been heatedly discussed."

This book covers lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies. Acquired immunodeficiencies are caused by infections with the human immunodeficiency virus or arise following immunosuppressive therapy administered after organ transplantation or to treat connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. It was recently discovered that various diseases or therapeutic modalities that induce a state of immunosuppression may cause virally driven lymphoproliferations. This book summarizes for the first time this group of immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferations.

This book covers all aspects of oxygen delivery to tissue, including blood flow and its regulation as well as oxygen metabolism. Special attention will be paid to methods of oxygen measurement in living tissue and application of these technologies to understanding physiological and biochemical basis for pathology related to tissue oxygenation. This book is multidisciplinary and designed to bring together experts and students from a range of research fields including biochemical engineering, physiology, microcirculation, and hematology.

Contents. List of Contributors. Brian Henderson and Gerry Higgs: Targets for modulating cytokine responses in inflammatory and infectious diseases. Mary Lee MacKichan and Anthony L. DeFranco: Cell signalling and cytokine induction by lipopolysaccharide. Rodger A. Allen and Stephen E. Rapecki: Regulation of cytokine production by inhibitors of cell signalling. Stanley T. Crooke: Oligonucleotide-based drugs in the control of cytokine synthesis. Peter I. Croucher, Ingunn Holen and Philip G. Hargreaves: Inhibiting cytokine-processing enzymes. Amanda Suitters and Roly Foulkes: Cytokine-neutralizing therapeutic antibodies. Ravinder N. Maini: The debut of anti-TNF therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in the clinic. Anthony Meager: Blockade of cytokine activity by soluble cytokine receptors. Michael F. Smith Jr.: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. Raymond J. Owens and Simon Lumb: Therapeutic regulation of cytokine signalling by inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Christian Bogdan, Yoram Vodovotz and John Letterio: TGF-ss and IL-10: inhibitory cytokines regulating immunity and the response to infection. Brian Henderson: Therapeutic control of cytokines: lessons from microorganisms. Index