Bøger i Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology serien

Cells of the immune system are activated by a variety of stimuli that are derived from other cells, ingested material or from invading microorganisms. This issue of CTMI focuses on the mechanisms of phosphoinositide-mediated protein recruitment to intracellular membranes.

Chemokines represent a family of over 40 small proteins that, for the most part, are secreted into the environment and function by binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are expressed on numerous different cell types.

This volume of CTMI, entitled Antimicrobial Peptides and Human Disease, is dedicated to the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the innate host defense system of homo sapiens.

Viruses are major pathogens in humans, and in the organisms with which we share this planet. For membrane traffic in parti- lar, viruses have been crucial in providing insights into key cellular fu- tions and the molecular mechanisms underlying these events.

Human coronaviruses caused the SARS epidemic that infected more than 8000 people, killing about ten percent of them in 32 countries. This book provides essential information on these viruses and the development of vaccines to control coronavirus infections.

Scientists often look askance at their colleagues whose research appears too strongly focused on a single gene or gene product. These rearrangements (including chromosomal translocation, viral integration, and gene ampli?cation) act to uncouple expression of the myc family genes from their normal physiological regulators.

yetwehopethatitwillofferinspirationandorientationtothescientistwho wouldliketoenterthis?eld. To date, many different cells have been described that can suppress + + other cells of the immune system: CD4 CD25 regulatory T cells (Treg), + ? CD4 CD25 regulatory T cells, T regulatory 1 cells (Tr1), T-helper 3 cells + ? (Th3),CD8 CD28 Tcells,NKTcells,aswellastolerogenicdendriticcells. Suppressive CD4 T cells fall at least into two categories. So called natural VI Preface + + CD4 CD25 Tregformpartoftheintra-thymicallyselectedTcellrepertoire andapparentlyconstituteadistinctlineage. Incontrast,"adaptive"regulatory Tcellsareinstructedintheperipherytobecomesuppressivecells,theyform + + amoreheterogeneousgroupincludingCD4 CD25 Treg,Tr1,andTh3cells. As natural Treg are so far the best characterized entity, the ?rst three contributionsofthisvolume(C. Cozzoetal. ,C. -S. Hsiehetal. ,andL.

Chemokines represent a family of over 40 small proteins that, for the most part, are secreted into the environment and function by binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are expressed on numerous different cell types.

An early view of eukaryotic chromosomes was that of static structures, which stored DNA not in use within a given cell type. The picture of chromosomes that is emerging is that of dynamic breathing organelles actively regulating the flow of genetic information from the genome.

"The objective of this CTMI volume is to provide readers with a foundation for understanding what ADARs are and how they act to affect gene expression and function. Future studies of ADARs no doubt will provide us with additional surprises and new insights into the modulation of biological processes by the ADAR family of proteins."

Controversy still exists regarding how early disease-modifying agents (DMA) should be commenced and whether all patients with relapsing-remitting MS should in fact be treated. With their novel, multifaceted approach to basic science, the authors of this book offer help to clinicians and hope to patients.

The importance of specific antibodies for the clearance of and long-term resistance to many infectious pathogens has long been appreciated. In the last five years, data from these areas of research has coalesced, resulting in the emergence of a new and more complete understanding of how antibody-mediated resistance to pathogens is elaborated.

At last - a volume that virologists have been waiting for: a fully updated new edition of a major study in a key subject area. The first edition of this work, published in 1997, described the molecular biology of coxsackie B viruses, as well as clinical, epidemiological, and immunological aspects of group B coxsackievirus disease.

The term humanized mouse in this text refers to a mouse in which human tissues and cells have been transplanted and show the same biological function as they do in the human body.

This volume has gathered some of the experts in the field to review aspects of our understanding of CMV and to offer perspectives of the current problems associated with CMV.

Mass immunization is the blitzkrieg of vaccination practice. However, as in war, mass immunization campaigns must be conducted intelligently, with careful strategy and strong attention to logistics of supply and deployment.

Nanotechnology is a collective term describing a broad range of relatively novel topics. Nanotechnology seeks to mimic what nature has achieved, with precision at the nanometer level down to the atomic level. Bacterial viruses (bacte- ophages), plant and animal eukaryotic viruses, and viruses of archaea have all been characterized in this manner.

There is increasing evidence that the CD1 system has been conserved throughout mammalian evolution and is capable of presenting structurally diverse diacyglycerol, sphingolipid, polyisoprenol and lipopeptide antigens.

The importance of specific antibodies for the clearance of and long-term resistance to many infectious pathogens has long been appreciated. In the last five years, data from these areas of research has coalesced, resulting in the emergence of a new and more complete understanding of how antibody-mediated resistance to pathogens is elaborated.

This monograph deals with the impact of classical genetics in immunology, prov- ing examples of how large immunological questions were solved, and new fields opened to analysis through the study of phenotypes, either spontaneous or induced.

It opens with chapters that provide the reader with current perspectives on biofilm development, physiology, environmental, and regulatory effects, the role of quorum sensing, and resistance/phenotypic persistence to antimicrobial agents during biofilm growth.

One of the most promising new approaches for the prevention of HIV transmission, particularly for developing countries, involves topical, self-administered products known as microbicides.

This book offers a comprehensive review of basic and clinical research on Varicella-zoster Virus, the only human herpesvirus for which vaccines to prevent both primary and recurrent infection are approved.

Scientific research on dengue has a long and rich history. Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, which assumed pandemic proportions during the latter half of the last century, have shown no indication of slowing their growth during this first decade of the twenty-first century.

Clearly, an in-depth study of bacterial infectious strategies, as well as the host cellular and immune responses, presented in each chapter of this book will provide further insight into the critical roles of the host innate and adaptive immune systems and their importance in determining the severity or completely preventing infectious diseases.

The study of viruses necessarily involves dissecting the intimate details of cellular pathways. Viruses have often been employed as tools in studying cellular pathways, as was done by early retrovirologists such as Peyton Rous in attempting to understand the mechanism of cellular transformation and oncogenesis.

Cells of the immune system develop in bone marrow and lymphoid organs, but as the cells mature they leave these organs and circulate as single cells. Studies of normal and transformed T cell lines and of T cells from transgenic mice led to comprehensive understanding of the mole- lar basis of antigen-receptor recognition and signaling.

The chemokine system is also important both for the crosstalk between malignant cells and their neighbouring nonmalignant stromal cells (including endothelial cells) as well as for immunoregulation in patients treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

The means by which non-enveloped viruses penetrate cellular membranes during cell entry remain poorly defined.

From humble beginnings over 25 years ago as a lipid kinase activity associated with certain oncoproteins, PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) has been catapulted to the forefront of drug development in cancer, immunity and thrombosis, with the first clinical trials of PI3K pathway inhibitors now in progress.