Book DescriptionThis textbook provides a unique support in gaining essential knowledge on the immune response, its diagnosis and its modification by drugs and chemicals. The first section of the book, covering a basic introduction to immunology and its relevance for human disease, has been updated to accommodate new immunological concepts. The second section on immunodiagnostics has been further expanded to describe widely used molecular techniques and is followed by a systematic coverage of drugs affecting the immune system, revised to cover recent developments. The book concludes with a chapter on immunotoxicology. This second edition continues the unique format dealing with four related topics in a single volume, obviating the need to refer to several different textbooks. New aids to the reader include a two-column format, glossaries of technical terms and appendix reference tables. The emphasis on illustrations is maintained from the first edition.
Table of ContentsPreface to he first editionPreface to the second edition A Mechanisms of immunity A.1 Hematopoiesis, including lymphocyte development and maturation A.2 T cell-mediated immunity A.3 Antibody diversity and B cell-mediated immunity A.4 Cytokines A.5 Innate immunity-phagocytes, natural killer cells and the complement system A.6 Inflammatory mediators and intracellular signaling A.7 Immune response in human pathology : infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites A.8 Immune response in human pathology : hypersensitivity and autoimmunity A.9 Cancer immunity A.10 Neuroimmunoendocrinology B Immunodiagnosis B.1 Antibody detection B.2 Immunoassays B.3 Flow cytometry B.4 Gene arrays B.5 Proteomics and applications within the drug development pipelineC Immunotherapeutics C.1 Vaccines C.2 Sera and immunoglobulins C.3 Anti-allergic drugs C.4 Drugs for the treatment of asthma and COPD C.5 Immunostimulants in cancer Therapy C.6 Anti-infective activity of immunomodulators C.7 Mild plant and dietary immunomodulators C.8 Influence of antibacterial drugs on the immune system C.9 Immunosuppressives in transplant rejection C.10 Cytotoxic durgs C.11 Corticosteroids C.12 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs C.13 Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs C.14 Perspectives of immunotherapy in the management of asthma and other allergic conditionsD Immunotoxicology D.1 Immunotoxicology AppendicesGlossary List of contributorsIndex