Gebundenes Buch

Molecular Aspects of Innate and Adaptive Immunity

Beschreibung

This book provides a survey of topics, in the area of innate and adaptive immunity, which have been researched within the MRC Immunochemistry Unit, at Oxford University, over a period of forty years. The topics include: -antibody structure - for which the first Director of the Immunochemistry Unit, Professor RR Porter, was awarded a Nobel prize in 1972 -the characterization of membrane proteins on lymphoid cells - leading to the concept of these molecules belonging to an immunoglobulin super family -the proteins of the human serum complement system - one of the body's major defences against microbial infection - the human cell -surface integrins and the hyaluronan- binding proteins, which are involved in regulation of inflammation at cell surfaces and within the extracellular matrix -the family of collectin molecules - containing distinct globular carbohydrate -binding domains linked to collagen-like regions - which play important roles in innate immunity in the lungs and bloodstream by immediate recognition and clearance of microbial pathogens Each chapter in the book gives a brief historical background to a topic and then provides a survey of recent advances in the field and are written by internationally recognised renowned experts. The theme running through the chapters is that of protein structure-function relationships - including, amongst other things, a description of the mechanism of how the reactive thiol ester bonds, found in the complement system components C3 and C4, are activated to allow the covalent binding of these proteins to suitable targets on microbes. Molecular Aspects of Innate and Adaptive Immunity is aimed primarily at established senior research scientists, postdoctoral research scientists and PhD students who have an interest in proteins of the immune system. However, the wide range of immunity system topics, while staying broadly within innate/adaptive immunity will also appeal to a wider audience.

Autor

Professor Kenneth BM Reid FRS, is Director at the MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford. Professor Reid is also a Fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organisation and is a Founder member of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In addition to being a member of many prestigious journal editorial boards, he is also the author of over 290 full-length scientific publications, over the period 1967- 2007, dealing with structure-function relationships of proteins of the human serum complement system and analysis of proteins of innate immunity in the lung surfactant. Since 1970 he has carried out research on the structures and functions of components of the human serum complement system and a major focus of his present research includes the analysis of the roles mammalian lectins SP-A and SP-D, as molecules of innate immunity, in the modulation of inflammation, induced by allergy or infection, in the lungs. Dr Robert B Sim is at the MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford. Dr Sim has had about 270 papers published since 1975, plus about 300 meetings abstracts and his main research interests are the activation and regulation of the complement system studied at the molecular level.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: RSC Publishing
• Seitenzahl: 297
• Erscheinungstermin: 29. September 2008
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 236mm x 155mm x 23mm
• Gewicht: 635g
• ISBN-13: 9780854046980
• ISBN-10: 0854046984
• Artikelnr.: 25454700