In response to the emergence of pathogenic bacteria that cannot be treated with current antibiotics, many researchers are revisiting the use of bacteriophages, or phages, to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. Bacteriophage as Antibiotics: Molecular Biology and Applications provides unparalleled, comprehensive information on bacteriophages and their applications, such as phage therapy. It offers techniques, media, and methodology involved in isolating and working with therapeutic phages. Photographs, line drawings, and electron micrographs of phages are also included. With its broad approach, this book is a useful reference for microbiologists, hematologists, and infectious disease researchers.

The Fifth Ir Gene Workshop was held at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, MO, August 28-31, 1982; 240 scientists participated in the Workshop. The man uscripts compiled in this book describe the state of the art concerning Ir genes. Although the notion of Ir Genes: Past, Present, and Future has not been ad dressed specifically by each author, the reader is certain to get this flavor from the contributions. In this Preface, we have tried to summarize some of the salient ob servations and discussions from the Workshop. The mUltiple genes of the I region have been defined traditionally by serolog ical analysis of intra-H-2 recombinant mice and the pattern of immune responses to certain antigens developed by these recombinant mice. The application of sev eral new techniques, such as gene cloning and DNA sequencing, production of T and B cell hybridomas, and development of cloned T cell lines has changed this tradition and introduced a new phase into the analysis of the I region, Ia antigens, and Ir genes."

Continued refinement ofwide-spread access to transgenic technology has allowed for new animal models have been developed that exhibit features of autoimmune disease have been developed that exhibit features of autoimmune disease. The second edition of "Autoimmunity: Methods and Protocols" researchers in the field detail many of the most up-to-date methods which are now commonly used to study autoimmunity. The first half the book focuses on methods and protocols used to assess immunological and biochemical pathways of diseases pathogenesis in human subjects. While the second half investigates treatment of inflammatory arthritis, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), IDDM, scleroderma, and uveitis in animal models and assessment of genetic, immunological, and biochemical parameters underlying spontaneous or exogenous antigen-induced diseases. Written in the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology(tm)" series format, the chapters include the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is crucial for getting optimal results in the laboratory.

Through and intuitive, "Autoimmunity: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition" seeks to aid scientists in the autoimmunity field to extract new meaning of old models and developing new ones."

Contents:
Part 1. Introduction. M.R. Leary, R.M. Kowalski, An Introduction to Social-clinical Psychology. M.R. Leary, J.E. Maddux, Progress Toward a Viable Interface between Social and Clinical-counseling Psychology. Part 2.
Social Psychological Processes in the Development and Maintenance of Emotional and Behavioral Problems. C.A. Anderson, R.S. Miller, A.L. Riger, J.C. Dill, C. Sedikides, Behavioral and Characterological Attributional Styles as Predictors of Depression and Loneliness: Review, Refinement and Test. C. Peterson, R.S. Vaidya, Explanatory Style, Expectations, and Depressive Symptoms. R.F. Baumeister, T.F. Heatherton, Self-regulation Failure: An Overview. C. Peterson, M.E.P. Seligman, K.H. Yurko, L.R. Martin, H.S. Friedman, Catastrophizing and Untimely Death. B.M. Braginsky, D.D. Braginsky, Schizophrenic Patients in the Psychiatric Interview: An Experimental Study of Their Effectiveness at Manipulation. S. Berglas, E.E. Jones, Drug Choice as a Self-handicapping Strategy in Response to Noncontingent Success. C.S. Crandall, Social Cognition of Binge Eating. M.R. Leary, L.S. Schreindorfer, A.L. Haupt, The Role of Self-esteem in Emotional and Behavioral Problems: Why is Low Self-esteem Dysfunctional? F.D. Fincham, T.N. Bradbury, Marital Satisfaction, Depression, and Attributions: A Longitudinal Analysis. J.E. Hokanson, M.P. Rubert, R.A. Welker, G.R. Hollander, C. Hedeen, Interpersonal Concomitants and Antecedents of Depression among College Students. S. Strack, J.C. Coyne, Social Confirmation of Dysphoria: Shared and Private Reactions to Depression. G. Downey, S.I. Feldman, Implications of Rejection Sensitivity for Intimate Relationships. Part 3. Social Psychological Processes in the Perception and Diagnosis of Psychological Problems. D.L. Rosenhan, On Being Sane in Insane Places. E.J. Langer, R.P. Abelson, A Patient by Any Other Name... Clinical Group Difference in Labeling Bias. J. Copeland, M. Snyder, When Counselors Confirm: A Functional Analysis. J.E. Maddux, The Mythology of Psychopathology: A Social Cognitive View of Deviance, Difference, and Disorder. P.W. Corrigan, D.L. Penn, Lessons from Social Psychology on Discrediting Psychiatric Stigma. Part 4. Social Psychological Processes in Clinical Treatment and Psychological Change. J. Frank, American Psychotherapy in Perspective (Excerpt from Persuasion and Healing). D.R. Forsyth, S.R. Strong, The Scientific Study of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Unificationist View. J.W. Pennebaker, J.K. Kiecolt-Glaser, R. Glaser, Disclosure of Traumas and Immune Function: Health Implications for Psychotherapy. D. Axsom, J. Cooper, Cognitive Dissonance and Psychotherapy: The Role of Effort Justification in Inducing Weight Loss. B.W. McNeill, C.D. Stoltenberg, Reconceptualizing Social Influence in Counseling: The Elaboration Likelihood Model. E.J. Langer, J. Rodin, The Effects of Choice and Enhanced Personal Responsibility for the Aged: A Field Experiment in an Institutional Setting. W.B. Swann, Jr, The Trouble with Change: Self-verification and Allegiance to the Self. Appendix. C.H. Jordan, M.P. Zanna, How to Read a Journal Article in Social Psychology.

A significant improvement in the safety of modern vaccines has been the development of subunit vaccines, as these are composed of very well-defined and highly pure components, often recombinant proteins. However, since protein-based antigens in general are weakly immunogenic by themselves, co-administration of adjuvants is required to induce potent and persistent specific immune responses. In recent years, there has been substantial progress in the discovery of new efficient adjuvants for subunit vaccines that are often classified into delivery systems and immunopotentiating compounds that constitute pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as the toll-like receptor ligands. The combination of delivery systems and immunopotentiators has appeared to represent extraordinarily good adjuvants due to concomitant enhanced antigen delivery and potent stimulation of innate immunity. Many of these adjuvants are of a particulate nature and mimic the structure and/or composition of microbes in a reductionist fashion. Examples are liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, emulsions and virus-like particles. However, there are a substantial number of pharmaceutical challenges associated with the subunit vaccine development process due to the complex nature of the antigen-adjuvant combinations. These challenges will be presented and discussed in this book. The objective of the book is to compile the concepts essential for the understanding of the pharmaceutical science and technology associated with the delivery of subunit vaccines. The books goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific and regulatory challenges facing scientists who research and develop subunit vaccines. The scope of the book is wide. It is written in a manner that will enlighten newcomers to the field (e.g., PhD students or experienced scientist switching fields) yet provide an in-depth knowledge that would benefit a skilled worker in the field. "

Currently, individuals interested in seeking an in-depth discussion of transplantation immunology must seek individual articles published in several journals, or extrapolate information from various non-transplant immunology textbooks. The purpose of this text is to provide the reader with a single source of information for the basic science of immunobiology of organ transplantation. It is unique that it focuses on immunobiology from the basic research side, with an emphasis on the cellular and molecular levels.
The readers will be physicians, scientists, and graduate students interested and engaged in the study of immunology as it relates to allo- and xenotransplantation. This book is designed to be the reference standard for the immunobiology of transplantation.

This book provides a systematic review of the development, function, and patho-physiologic role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in humans. The chapters of the book discuss the origin and discovery, hematopoietic development as well as molecular regulation of pDCs in the context of immune activation as well as immune tolerance. It also discusses the role of pDCs in human diseases, including infections, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, cancers and metabolic disorders, and opportunities for pDC-targeting therapies in these varied clinical contexts.

Cardiovascular immunology is a newly emerging research area, investigating the crosstalk between the cardiovascular and the immune system. This crosstalk is evident through (1) crucial immunological capacities and functions of cardiovascular cell types, including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes and cardiac resident macrophages, (2) the impact of aberrant immune function on the development of cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis, direct and indirect immune-mediated heart disease and vasculitis, and (3) the crucial role of the immune system in cardiac repair and regeneration. The Immunology of Cardiovascular Homeostasis and Pathology covers all these aspects of cardiovascular immunology, starting with homeostatic immunological functions of traditional cardiovascular cell types, and moving then to the role of the immune system in cardiovascular pathology and to recent research into targeting the immune system to boost cardiac healing and regeneration.

This volume focuses on apoptotic and non-apoptotic programmed cell death, including necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, and presents recent findings in the field. It discusses the crucial role that apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death play in various pathological conditions, such as skin diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and virus infections. Further, it highlights the mechanisms underlying the recognition and clearance of dead cells, and the subsequent biological responses triggered by phagocytosed macrophages and factors released from dying cells. Offering insights into cell death, it is a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians developing novel strategies to treat various diseases that are closely associated with cell death.

This book, written by very well known opinion leaders in the field, covers all aspects of familial Mediterranean fever, the most common monogenic autoinflammatory disease. The opening chapters explain the genetic basis of the disease and provide insights into the pathogenesis derived from recent experimental studies. A large part of the book is then devoted to a detailed description of the typical and atypical clinical presentations, the disease course, and potential complications in both pediatric and adult patients. Guidance is provided on the measurement of disease severity and the management of patients in daily practice. The advice regarding treatment is based on the best currently available evidence and attention is also paid to important emerging treatments. The book is part of Springer's series Rare Diseases of the Immune System, which presents recently acquired knowledge on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy with the aim of promoting a more holistic approach to these conditions. Monogenic autoinflammatory diseases are hereditary disorders that are caused by single-gene defects in innate immune regulatory pathways and are characterized by a clinical and biological inflammatory syndrome in which there is limited, if any, evidence of autoimmunity. Familial Mediterranean fever itself is due to a mutation in the MEFV gene, which codes for the protein pyrin; it is characterized by periodic fever and episodes of painful inflammation in the abdomen, chest, and joints. Familial Mediterranean Fever will be an invaluable source of up-to-date information for all practitioners involved in the care of patients with the disease.

In Eosinophil: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field of eosinophil biology comprehensively provide detailed methodological insight into the study of this fascinating cell. This book is aimed at a diverse range of basic and clinical scientists who wish to work with eosinophils or who require an update of their knowledge or to gain the information required to study a function of the eosinophil different to their current area of enquiry. 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 key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Eosinophil: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientist in the discovery of new hypotheses and for further examination of this intriguing cell.

Contents:
1. Bacterial and Plant Toxins - General Mode of Action A.E. Frankel and P.D. Hall 2. Diphtheria Toxin-Structure, Function and its Therapeutic Use R.C. Ratts and J.C. VanderSpek 3. Ricin A-Structure, Function and its Clinical Applications M. Colmbatti 4. Pathways of Delivering Toxins into the Cytosol of Target Cells M. Lord, P.J. Day, M.E. Jackson, S.R. Owens, J.C. Simpson, D.C. Smith and L.M. Roberts 5. Engineering Immunotoxins for Improving their Therapeutic Activity Y. Reiter, G. Denkberg and C. Cohen 6. Ligand-receptor Interactions Studied with Chimeric Proteins H. Lorberboum-Galski 7. Chimeric Proteins: a Novel Approach for Eliminating Specific Cell Populations for Targeted Human Therapy A. Ben-Yehudah, R. Belostotsky, R. Aqeilan, Y. Azar, I. Steinberger, A. Fishman, A. Nechushtan, S. Yarkoni and H. Lorberboum-Gaski 8. Chimeric Neurotoxins - a Molecular Neurosurgery Approach P. Lazarovici 9. Targeted Immunotherapy of Autoimmune Diseases by Chimeric Toxins B.A. Holder and J.G. Krueger 10. Immunotoxins for Targeted Cancer Therapy R.J. Kreitman 11. Molecular Targeting of Brain Tumors with Cytotoxins W. Debinski 12. Toxins in the Development of Vaccines C.T. Hsu, C.Y. Ting and J. Hwang

As individuals age, their ability to respond to andclear pathogens and to control unwanted immune reactions declines, leading to a greater incidence of certain infectious diseases, autoimmunity and general immune dysfunctions. Most remarkably, the efficacy of vaccines is frequently decreased in elderly persons. Therefore, age-associated dysfunctions of the humoral and cellular immune responses have a strong clinical impact. Improving our understanding of the aged immune system is crucial in developing effective prevention and treatment programs that will facilitate healthy aging and improve the quality of life of the elderly population.

The aim of this volume is to summarize current knowledge on the cellular and molecular aspects of the aging immune system, with an emphasis on infectious diseases and new therapeutic approaches.

"

Antigen processing is a biological process that prepares antigens for the presentation to special cells in the immune system called T lymphocytes. In Antigen Processing: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field provide a comprehensive set of protocols for studying presentation of antigens produced in the standard processing pathways for MHC class I and class II molecules. The chapters follow chronology of intracellular processing events, ending with recognition of peptide-MHC complexes at the cell surface by T lymphocytes. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Antigen Processing: Methods and Protocols is designed for beginners and experts interested in studying antigen processing.

This book achieves an invaluable, contemporary picture of the phylum as a whole - Derek Wakelin - Parasitology

Designed as an introductory textbook "Infection, Resistance and Immunity provides basic and established information on the workings of the immunological system and on infectious processes and their control. With sections on immunological disorders, immunization, immunodiagnosis and epidemiology relating immunology to practical problems in medicine, a section on comparative immunology introduces the student to differences among immunological systems among common species of nonhuman animals. Written for the advanced undergraduate, the focus on host-parasite interactions distinguishes this text from other standard texts, which focus on the cellular mechanisms of the immune response.

The complement system plays a major role in the host's defence against infections and in immune complex diseases. Although it is known to consist of a number of serum and membrane proteins that interact through a cascade, there is still a poor understanding of the exact nature of the components and their complex interaction. Many of the biological consequences of complement activation also await elucidation. This fully revised edition of "Complement in Health and Disease" provides an up-to-date account of how the system works and its effects on the host. Key topics covered include the history, phylogeny and evolution of the system; genetics and biochemistry; deficiency states and infection; immune complex diseases; complement and angioedema; anaphylatoxins; and diseases of the nervous system. The book is valuable both for those wanting an introduction to this complex area of immunology as well as those requiring a more detailed update on developments in specific topics.

This volume presents a collection of reviews derived from work presented at the Aegean Conference: "4th Crossroads between innate and adaptive immunity". This meeting was the fourth in a series, and assembled a team of scientists working on mechanisms by which the innate immune system of the host senses pathogens, the cellular and signaling networks that orchestrate the innate response and antigen presentation and adaptive immunity. The importance of the crosstalk between innate immunity and the adaptive immune response has only recently started to be appreciated. Although it is well recognized that dendritic cells, NK cells, NK-T cells and T cells are all critical for the host response to pathogens, the respective fields that study the biology of these immune cells tend to exist in parallel worlds with minimum exchange of information and ideas. This fragmentation hinders the integration of these fields towards a unified theory of host response. The Aegean Conference "Crossroads between Innate and Adaptive Immunity" brought together leading international scientists and experts to address critical areas of Innate and Adaptive immunity something necessary for the development of more efficient scientific exchange and crosspollination between these fields. This conference attracted scientists from all over the world to discuss their latest findings on the various aspects of Innate and Adaptive immunity. The conference had limited participation and a scientific and social program that maximized scientific interchange through lecture presentations, poster sessions and informal discussions.

This book highlights progress and trends in the rapidly evolving field of complement-related drug discovery and spotlights examples of clinical applications. As an integral part of innate immunity and critical mediator in homeostatic and inflammatory processes, the human complement system has been identified as contributor to a large number of disorders including ocular, cardiovascular, metabolic, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases as well as in ischemia/reperfusion injury, cancer and sepsis. In addition, complement is often involved in adverse immune reactions to biomaterials, cell and organ transplants or drug delivery systems. Although the complement cascade with its close to 50 extracellular protein targets has long been recognized as an attractive system for therapeutic modulation, the past few years have seen a particularly strong boost in interest. Fueled by novel research insight and the marketing of the first complement-targeted drugs, a plethora of highly creative treatment approaches and potent drug candidates have recently emerged and are currently evaluated in disease models and clinical trials. The chapters in this book cover a wide range of topics related to the development of complement therapeutics, ranging from the molecular and functional description of complement targets to the presentation of novel inhibitors, improved treatment strategies as well as examples of disease models and clinical applications. The broad and up-to-date overview on a highly versatile and dynamic field renders this book an indispensable source of information for researchers and clinicians dealing with therapeutic and disease-related aspects of the human complement system.

At the intersection of experimental and computational sciences, the second edition of "Immunoinformatics" provides biological insights as well as a simpler way to implement approaches and algorithms in the immunoinformatics research domain. After an introductory section, this extensive volume moves on to cover topics such as databases, tools for prediction, systems biology approaches, as well as a variety of immunoinformatics applications. As part of the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology" series, chapters include the type of detailed information and implementation advice to ensure successful results.

Comprehensive and practical, "Immunoinformatics, Second Edition" aims at students and researchers from diverse backgrounds and levels interested in working with immunological problems.

This volume explores the various methods used to study tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in pathological situations. Pre-clinical models are also discussed in detail to show how TLS structure, development, and maintenance can be targeted and studied in vivo. The chapters in this book cover topics such as humans and mice; strategies to quantify TLS in order to use it in stained tissue sections; classifying a gene signature form fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues; and development of murine inflammatory models to help look at TLS in the context of infection or malignancy. 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 thorough, Tertiary Lymphoid Structures: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource that increases the reader's knowledge on immune functions and how they will pave the way to future therapeutic applications.

Given the vital importance of immune system research, the gathering of clear, consistent, and informative protocols involving the study of dendritic cells is paramount. Bringing the popular first edition fully up to date, Dendritic Cell Protocols, Second Edition presents protocols from experts in the field that cover the basics and more complex forays into the exploration of DC development and function, both in mice and humans. The first section of the volume involving humans explores topics such as the isolation of blood DC subtypes, primary skin Langerhans cells, and the generation of gene-manipulated human DCs with the inclusion of more clinically relevant methods as well, while the second section involving rodent models delves into DC and precursor generation in vitro, isolation ex vivo, disease models, as well as DC functions and properties. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biologya" series style, chapters include introductions to their respective subjects, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Dendritic Cell Protocols, Second Edition aims to become a bench-side handbook for both beginners and experts in the field of DC research and a long-term reference for some of the most popular methods put forward by those who lead the field.