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Immunology is the study of our protection from foreign macromolecules or invading organisms and our responses to them. These invaders include viruses, bacteria, protozoa or even larger parasites. In addition, we develop immune responses against our own proteins (and other molecules) in autoimmunity and against our own aberrant cells in tumor immunity. Our first line of defense against foreign organisms are barrier tissues such as the skin that stop the entry of organism into our bodies. If, however, these barrier layers are penetrated, the body contains cells that respond rapidly to the presence of the invader. These cells include macrophages and neutrophils that engulf foreign organisms and kill them without the need for antibodies. Immediate challenge also comes from soluble molecules that deprive the invading organism of essential nutrients (such as iron) and from certain molecules that are found on the surfaces of epithelia, in secretions (such as tears and saliva) and in the blood stream. This form of immunity is the innate or non-specific immune system that is continually ready to respond to invasion. A second line of defense is the specific or adaptive immune system which may take days to respond to a primary invasion (that is infection by an organism that has not hitherto been seen). In the specific immune system, we see the production of antibodies (soluble proteins that bind to foreign antigens) and cell-mediated responses in which specific cells recognize foreign pathogens and destroy them. In the case of viruses or tumors, this response is also vital to the recognition and destruction of virally-infected or tumorigenic cells. The response to a second round of infection is often more rapid than to the primary infection because of the activation of memory B and T cells. We shall see how cells of the immune system interact with one another by a variety of signal molecules so that a coordinated response may be mounted. These signals may be proteins such as lymphokines which are produced by cells of the lymphoid system, cytokines and chemokines that are produced by other cells in an immune response, and which stimulate cells of the immune system. |
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Guest article New approaches for vaccines against a neglected disease – leishmaniasis |
CHAPTER ONE INNATE (NON-SPECIFIC) IMMUNITY |
The non-specific or innate immune system: Anatomical barriers, secretory molecules and cellular components | ||||
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TWO COMPLEMENT |
The complement system consists of more than 20 proteins in serum capable of lysing antibody-coated cells | |||||
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CHAPTER THREE ANTIGENS |
Antigens are substances that induce a specific immune response and subsequently react with the products of a specific immune response | |||||
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CHAPTER FOUR THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS - ANTIBODIES |
Immunoglobulins
are protein molecules that are produced by plasma cells in response to an antigen and which function as antibodies. |
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CHAPTER FIVE CLASSES OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS: ISOTYPES AND ALLOTYPES |
Isotypes are antigenic determinants that characterize classes and subclasses of antibody heavy chains and types and subtypes of light chains | ||||
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CHAPTER SIX THE GENETICS OF IDIOTYPES |
The organization and expression of the immunoglobulin gene families | |||||
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CHAPTER SEVEN ANTIBODY-ANTIGEN REACTIONS AND TEST FOR THESE REACTIONS
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The nature of antigen/antibody reactions - Antibody affinity and avidity - The basis for antibody specificity and cross reactivity - The principles of commonly used tests for antigen/antibody reactions | |||||
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CHAPTER EIGHT ANTIBODY FORMATION |
Characteristics of the specific immune response - Primary and secondary antibody responses - The molecular events involved in class switching and membrane immunoglobulin expression | |||||
| CHAPTER NINE CELLS INVOLVED IN IMMUNE RESPONSES |
An overview of the types of cell interactions and molecules required for specific immunity. | |||||
| CHAPTER TEN MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX |
The structure and function of cell surface molecules involved in immune cell interactions: major histocompatibility complex molecules, the T cell receptor (TCR), the CD3 complex, and accessory and costimulatory molecules. | |||||
| CHAPTER ELEVEN RESPONSE TO ANTIGEN |
Different types of antigen recognized by T and B cells. Cell biology and significance of different pathways for antigen processing and presentation by class I and class II MHC. Experimental basis for self MHC restriction. Role of the thymus in determining T cell receptor repertoire. Superantigens as anomalous antigens | |||||
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CHAPTER TWELVE CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY Cell-cell interactions in specific immune responses |
Helper T cell-B cell interactions for antibody formation against hapten-conjugated proteins and complex proteins. Thymus- independent antigens | |||||
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN IMMUNOREGULATION |
Subpopulations of helper T cells: Th1 and Th2. Cytokines and class (isotype) switching. Cytokine activation of macrophages and functions. Maturation and mechanism of killing by cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). Characteristics of killing mechanisms of other cytolytic cells Immunoregulatory processes | |||||
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN IMMUNIZATION |
Passive and active immunization. Applications and problems of artificial and natural means of immunization. Modern approaches to immunization | ||||
| CHAPTER FIFTEEN MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX - GENETICS AND ROLE IN TRANSPLANTATION |
MHC loci and their products. Genetic basis of MHC heterogeneity in populations. Distribution of MHC molecules on different cells. How MHC antigens are detected (tissue typing). Role of MHC in Transplantation, immune functions and disease | |||||
| CHAPTER SIXTEEN TOLERANCE AND AUTOIMMUNITY |
Concept and significance of tolerance. Factors that determine induction of tolerance. Mechanism of tolerance induction. Concepts of autoimmunity and disease. Features of major autoimmune diseases. Theories of etiology of autoimmune disease | |||||
| CHAPTER SEVENTEEN HYPERSENSITIVITY STATES |
Classification of hypersensitivity reactions. Diseases associated with hypersensitivity reactions. Mechanisms of damage in hypersensitivity reactions. Methods for diagnosing conditions due to hypersensitivity. Modes of treating disease due to hypersensitivity and their rationale | |||||
| CHAPTER EIGHTEEN TUMOR IMMUNOLOGY |
Evidence for immune reactivity to tumor. Changes in cellular characteristics due to malignancy. Host components which affect tumor progression. Tumor cell components which protect it from the immune system. Rationale for tumor immunotherapy and know the approaches | |||||
| CHAPTER NINETEEN IMMUNODEFICIENCIES |
Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Immunodeficiencies in AIDS and other conditions. Major primary immunodeficiencies and their features. Relationship between site of lesion and resulting immunodeficiency. Diagnostic tests for different immunodeficiencies | |||||
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