Instant Notes Immunology

Instant Notes in Immunology provides concise yet comprehensive coverage of immunology at an undergraduate level, providing easy access to the core information in the field. The book covers all the important areas of immunology in a format which is ideal for learning and rapid revision.

Section A - OVERVIEW OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. The need. External defenses. Immune defense. Antigens. Section B - CELLS OF THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM. Phagocytes. Natural killer cells. Mast cells and basophils. Dendritic cells. Other cells of the innate immune system. Section C - MOLECULES OF THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM. Innate molecular defense against microbes. Complement. Acute phase proteins. Interferons. Other molecules. Section D - ADAPTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM: LYMPHOCYTES, LYMPHOID ORGANS AND TISSUES. Lymphocytes. Lymphoid organs and tissues. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues. Lymphocyte traffic and recirculation. Section E - DEVELOPMENT OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. Haemopoiesis - development of blood cells. T cells are produced in the thymus. B cells are produced in the bone marrow. Immunity in the newborn. Section F - ANTIBODIES. Basic structure. Antibody classes. Generation of diversity. Allotypes and Idiotypes.

Functions. Monoclonal antibodies. Section G - CYTOKINES. Molecules with multiple functions. Cytokine families. Cytokines in the clinic. Section H - ANTIGEN RECOGNITION. Non-self recognition by the innate immune system. B cell recognition of antigen, the B cell receptor complex and co-receptors. T cell recognition of antigen, the T cell receptor complex. The Major histocompatibility complexes (MHC), antigen processing and presentation. Section I - THE ACUTE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE. The acute inflammatory response. Section J - THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE. The cellular basis of the antibody response. Section K - THE T CELL RESPONSE - CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY. Cell mediated immunity. T cytotoxic cells. T helper cells. Section L - LYMPHOCYTE ACTIVATION. Receptors, co-receptors and signaling. T cell activation. B cell activation. Section M - SELF AND NON-SELF DISCRIMINATION. Cell recognition of self and non-self. Central tolerance. Peripheral tolerance. Acquired tolerance. Section N - REGULATION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE. Components involved in immune regulation. The role of antigen. Gene, T helper cells and cytokines. The role of antibody. Other control mechanisms. Section O - IMMUNITY TO INFECTION. The microbial cosmos. Immunity to different organisms. Pathogen defence strategies. Section P - TUMOR IMMUNOLOGY. Origin and host defence against tumors. Tumor antigens. Immune responses to tumors. Immunodiagnosis. Cytokine and cellular immunotherapy of tumors. Immunotherapy of tumors with antibodies. Tumor vaccines. Section Q - TRANSPLANTATION. The transplantation problem. Transplantation antigens. Rejection mechanisms. Prevention of graft rejection. Section R - VACCINATION. Principles of vaccination. Immunization. Antigen preparations. Vaccines to pathogens and tumors. Section S - IMMUNODEFICIENCY - WHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM FAILS. Deficiencies in the immune system. Primary/congenital (inherited) immunodeficiency. Secondary (aquired) immunodeficiency. Diagnosis and treatment of immunodeficiency. Section T - HYPERSENSITIVITY - WHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OVERREACTS. Definitions and classification. IgE mediated type I hypersensitivity: allergy. IgG and IgM-mediated type II hypersensitivity. Immune-complex mediated type III hypersensitivity. Delayes-type type IV hypersensitivity. Section U - AUTOIMMUNITY AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. The spectrum and prevalence of auto-immunity. Factors contributing to the development of autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disease - mechanisms of development. Disease pathogenesis - effector mechanisms. Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disease. Section V - IMMUNOTECHNOLOGY - ANTIBODIES AS TOOLS. Antibodies as research and diagnostic tools. Precipitation and agglutination. Immunoassay. Affinity chromotography. Monoclonal and recombinat antibodies.