Increasing interest in the immunology of mucosal surfaces is obvious from the number of publications in scientific journals and from the frequency of national and international symposia devoted to this subject. Particularly encouraging are the large numbers of young investigators who have chosen to work in this area of theoretical immunology with profound practical implications. The two volumes represented here are the result of an International Congress Of Mucosal Immunology held at the Niagara Falls Convention Center and the Niagara Falls Hilton on June 29 - July 3, 1986. This satellite meeting of the International Congress of Immunology placed emphasis on all aspects of the Mucosal Immune System. This included the regulation of differentiation of mucosal lymphocytes, mucosa-associated lymphoreticular tissue and lymphocyte homing, the immunology of mucosa associated tissues and glands, effector functions in mucosal immunity, and the effects of environmental antigens on the immune response, all of which are included in Volume I. The second volume has emphasized studies of the immune response and effector functions, IgA biosynthesis and transport, IgA proteases and effector functions, developmental aspects and immunodeficiency, the immunopathology of IgA and mucosal immunoprophylaxis. A total of 218 papers are included in these two volumes and a comparison to past meetings held at four to five year intervals indicates the explosive growth of mucosal immunology."

The National Institute of Dental Research sponsored a workshop on "Genetically Engineered Vaccines: Prospects for Oral Disease Prevention," held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on November 6-8, 1991. The purpose of the workshop was to convene molecular biologists and immunologists to address the state of the science in vaccine development and to explore the potential of developing vaccines for prevention of oral diseases. The goal was to elicit new research initiatives and recommendations for vaccine development with emphasis on the prevention of oral diseases and diseases affecting the orofacial tissues. The workshop was attended by more than 100 persons who heard 30 presentations, and the speakers provided the papers for this volume. The workshop focused on the following topics: oral diseases and host immune responses, update on vaccines and vaccine development, vaccines and the mucosal immune system, optimizing mucosal and systemic immune responses, delivery systems and immune analysis, target antigen selection and vaccine development, immunological correlates of protection and future direc tions/recommendations. Three key areas were identified: Optimizing the Mucosal Immune Response, Antigen Delivery Systems, and Target Antigens and Immunological Correlates of Protection. The summary and recommendations from these deliberations is included at the end of this volume."

Oral immunization has a fascinating and frequently successful history, yet it has been largely overshadowed by other immunization methods. Various vaccines that lead to the induction of antibodies in respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts are currently under development, and others are in use for the immunization of animals as well as humans. This volume gives oral immunization the attention it deserves in light of recent methodological and technical advances in antigen delivery systems.

This comprehensive, authoritative treatise covers all aspects of mucosal vaccines including their development, mechanisms of action, molecular/cellular aspects, and practical applications. The contributing authors and editors of this one-of-a-kind book are very well known in their respective fields. Mucosal Vaccines is organized in a unique format in which basic, clinical, and practical aspects of the mucosal immune system for vaccine development are described and discussed. This project is endorsed by the "Society for Mucosal Immunology."
Key Features
* Provides the latest views on mucosal vaccines
* Applies basic principles to the development of new vaccines
* Links basic, clinical, and practical aspects of mucosal vaccines to different infectious diseases
* Unique and user-friendly organization