Exploring Immunology: Concepts and Evidence

This concise introductory textbook uses carefully chosen examples from clinical and experimental observations to provide an insight into the principles underlying the immune system. As a result, it encourages readers to ask critical questions in order to further advance our understanding of this unique organ.
Written by an experienced lecturer and highly regarded researcher.


Spis treści:
Chapters. The book is organised as follows
o Preface
o Chapter 1 –
Immunology: An Overview
o Chapter 2 –
Infection and Immunity
o Chapter 3 –
Functional Dynamics of Immunity
o Chapter 4 –
Innate Immunity
o Chapter 5 –
T–Cell Immunity
o Chapter 6 –
Antibody Immunity
o Chapter 7 –
Immunopathology
o Chapter 8 –
Immunology: Prospects and Problems
Approach. Throughout the chapters of this book a common overall structure will be used wherever possible, based on answering the following questions.
o What is it?
o What does it do?
o How does it do it?
o What can go wrong with it?
o How can it be manipulated for therapeutic purposes?
Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to the field. Chapters 2–6 then address its different areas in detail, focussing in particular on the role of infection in driving normal immune responses and causing diseases. Chapter 7 turns to immunopathologies – allergy, hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune diseases – and also includes transplantation and cancer. Finally, Chapter 8 highlights current areas of uncertainty and controversy in immunology, and considers the prospects for future immunotherapy.


Nota biograficzna:
Gordon MacPherson is Reader in Experimental Pathology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford and Tutor in Medicine, Oriel College Oxford. He has taught immunology to medical students for over 30 years in lectur es, practical classes and tutorials at both introductory and Honours levels. He teaches all aspects of immunology, and in tutorials also covers microbiology and general pathology. His research interests are in immune regulation, particularly mucosal immunity, and the properties and roles of dendritic cells. He has published many papers (experimental and reviews) and has been an invited speaker at many international conferences
Jon Austyn is Professor of Immunobiology in the Nuffield Department of Surgery at the University of Oxford. He has taught extensively in all areas of fundamental immunology over many years, and designed the MSc course in Integrated Immunology at the University of Oxford, which he now co–directs. Jon Austyn has over 25 years research experience of dendritic cell immunobiology, particularly as applied to transplantation, infectious diseases and more recently cancer. He was recently awarded with distinction the Diploma in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education by the University of Oxford.