T.T. Macdonald - Böcker

The immunology of mucosal surfaces is one of the most exciting and relevant areas of medical veterinary and dental research since it applies basic research to tissues in­ volved in everyday defence against microbes and against environmental and food antigens. This book is based on the contributions presented at the International Con­ gress of Mucosal Immunology, held in London in July 1989 and organised by the Mu­ cosal Immunology Affinity Group of the British Society for Immunology. The meet­ ing was attended by over 500 delegates from 27 countries, including virtually all of the leading investigators in the field. The contents give comprehensive and up-to­ date information on such topics as antigen presentation and processing in the gut, mucosal vaccines in man and animals, HIV infection in the gut, the role of yo T cells in the gut epithelium, recent advances in inflammatory bowel disease and coeliac dis­ ease, the role of cytokines in the regulation of the IgA response, mucosal mast cells and cell migration. The contributions reflect the rapid pace of research in mucosal immunology, and the great strides which are taking place in the understanding of the immunology, molecular biology and biochemistry of host response at mucosal sur­ faces.

This work, the proceedings of Falk Symposium No. 104 - organized in collaboration with the Society of Mucosal Immunology, and held in Saarbrucken, Germany, March 5-7 1998 - is centered around the immunological mechanisms of mucosal protection and their disturbances leading to intestinal inflammation and destruction. This is a rapidly expanding field involving knowledge of basic immunology and cell biology as well as clinical observations. The conference and this book summarize recent data in this field and suggest strategies for future research and clinical applications, and should be of interest to both basic scientists and clinicians.

Gastrointestinal diseases present a considerable problem in human medicine in terms of both morbidity and mortality. The aim of this book is to cover the different immunological disorders of the gut with special reference to immunopathological and protective mechanisms. It should be of general interest to clinicians, scientists and students concerned with the gastrointestinal tract. Topics covered include: the current status of research into toxin-secreting pathogens, campylobacter, giardia and HIV; the immunological features of idiopathic inflammatory gut diseases such as Crohn's disease and intractable diarrhoea; the genesis of the flat mucosa; the iatrogenic diseases of the gut such as graft-versus-host disease and small bowel allografts; the immune mechanisms and lesions in the gut of patients with parasitic nematode infections (very important in the tropics). Basic background on the immune apparatus in the intestine is also discussed, as are the effects of inflammation on intestinal permeability.

Gastrointestinal diseases present a considerable problem in human medicine in terms of both morbidity and mortality. The aim of this book is to cover the different immunological disorders of the gut with special reference to immunopathological and protective mechanisms. It will be of general interest to clinicians, scientists and students concerned with the gastrointestinal tract. Topics covered include: the current status of research into toxin-secreting pathogens, Campylobacter, Giardia and HIV; the immunological features of idiopathic inflammatory gut diseases such as Crohn's disease and intractable diarrhoea; the genesis of the flat mucosa; the iatrogenic diseases of the gut such as graft-versus-host disease and small bowel allografts; the immune mechanisms and lesions in the gut of patients with parasitic nematode infections (very important in the tropics). Basic background on the immune apparatus in the intestine is also discussed, as are the effects of inflammation on intestinal permeability.