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Resistance to Anti-CD20 Antibodies and Approaches for Their Reversal presents in-depth content written by international experts in the study of resistance to anti-CD20 antibodies and approaches for their reversal. Anti-CD20 antibodies are used to achieve B cell depletion and are developed to treat B cell proliferative disorders, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the past two decades, anti-CD20 antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of all B cell malignancies, however, there are patients that fail to respond to initial therapy or relapse sooner. This book explores new and existing avenues surrounding Anti-CD20 antibodies. In recent years, several next-generation anti-CD20 therapies have been developed but predicting and reversing resistance is still a challenging task. These areas are being actively studied as they represent a potential to improve anti-CD20 therapies and are discussed thoroughly in the book. It is a valuable resource for researchers, students and member of the biomedical and medical fields who want to learn more about resistance to anti-CD20 antibodies and their reversal.• Presentation of current research, critical analyses, in-depth literature reviews, and the latest clinical reports on anti-CD20 antibody treatment• Discussion of recent developments of anti-CD20 antibodies in cancer and noncancer diseases treatment, possible resistance mechanisms and their reversals, as well as the exciting therapeutic opportunities offered by anti-CD20 antibodies in combination with chemotherapy or other treatment modalities• Utilization of a number of diagrams to visually illustrate complex content and plenty of tables to summarize important information

This highly readable textbook serves as a concise and engaging primer to the emerging field of antibody engineering and its various applications. It introduces readers to the basic science and molecular structure of antibodies, and explores how to characterize and engineer them. Readers will find an overview of the latest methods in antibody identification, improvement and biochemical engineering. Furthermore, alternative antibody formats and bispecific antibodies are discussed.The book's content is based on lectures for the specializations “Protein Engineering” and “Medical Biotechnology” within the Master's curriculum in “Biotechnology.” The lectures have been held at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, in cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna, since 2012 and are continuously adapted to reflect the latest developments in the field. The book addresses Master- and PhD students in biotechnology, molecular biology and immunology, and all those who are interested in antibody engineering.

Volume Immunodeficiency Diseases in Springer's gold-standard reference work on medical immunology focuses on infectious diseases. In tandem with its three counterpart volumes it offers the most wide-ranging and authoritative repository of knowledge on infectious diseases, with readily accessed contributions by the world's leading authorities on the subject. The encyclopedia covers the material from all angles, with more than 1000 pages of essays on the genetics, physiology, metabolism, pathogenesis and applied microbiology of all known infectious diseases, and includes access to an e-reference work that will include ongoing updates reflecting the latest advances in the field.An outstanding new resource of immense value to a wide range of medical researchers and practitioners, the encyclopedia features a user-friendly subdivision of diseases according to their affective locus in the human body. The sections cover integumentary, skeletal, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive transmissible pathogens. This high-profile encyclopedia will be an essential addition to academic libraries worldwide.

The book “Immunoglobulins, Magic Bullets and Therapeutic Antibodies” comprises of ten chapters and it describes the origin, history, timeline, production and scope of immunoglobulins which are the central molecules of the immune system around which the field of immunology revolves. This book describes how the immune system responds to injuries and insults by foreign antigens (bacteria, viruses etc) and produces immunoglobulins, which then through various immune response mechanisms protect the body against pathogenic invasions. Further, it discusses how these antigens are involved in the differentiation and maturation of immune cells, how lymph nodes are involved in concentrating the antigens, how immunogenicity of an antigen is affected and how antigenicity of immunogens is related to the immune response. Classification of immunoglobulins and the organization and expression of immunoglobulin genes is described separately. The antigen antibody interactions and antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity are also discussed in separate chapters. The magic bullets or monoclonal antibodies, which have revolutionized the field of immunology, are described in greater detail, their production by hybridoma technology and the important role played by these antibodies in research, diagnostics and therapeutics is also discussed in the book. Lastly the immunodiagnostic techniques like radioimmunoassay (RIA), Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), flowcytometry and their importance in the detection of various kinds of diseases like cancer, HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, etc. are discussed in detail as well in the book. The book contains a large number of flow charts, diagrams, depictions and tables highlighting the properties, characteristic features, functions and roles played by these immunoglobulins in various fields of biosciences.

This volume explores several aspects of how antibodies mediate their activity in vivo, ranging from cancer immunotherapy to autoimmunity, infection, and vaccination. Divided into seven chapters, it provides in-depth insights into how antibodies and especially the antibody fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain modulate immune responses and antibody activity. The book begins by discussing evolutionary aspects of how the family of Fc receptors that are the key molecules for antibody activity evolved. In turn, it addresses the molecular and cellular pathways underlying IgG activity in cancer immunotherapy, and focuses on how IgG glycosylation regulates IgG and IgE activity in autoimmunity, allergy and infection. In closing, it presents strategies for developing novel antibody-based vaccination approaches. The book is intended for a very broad readership, including graduate students, postdocs and principal investigators with a basic grasp of immunology.

First published in 2006, the bestselling Wintrobe's Atlas of Clinical Hematologyhas now been comprehensively updated by a brand-new editorial team to bring you state-of-the-art pictorial coverage of the complete range of hematologic conditions. Thousands of meticulous, full-color images capture the characteristic appearance of each pathologic entity, and concise descriptions point out features of diagnostic importance. The result is a peerless reference to facilitate confident diagnosis in hematology.

This book is a sincere venture to present the new concepts in Agriculture and Veternary Science.

State-of-the-art reviews covering major aspects of antibodies and intervention against infectious diseases The connection between antibodies and infectious diseases has spawned entire related fields of study. Antibodies for Infectious Diseases presents perspectives from leading research scientists and summarizes the amazing progress in this area into a single definitive source. Providing a broad survey of the most important aspects of the field of antibodies for infectious diseases, this book presents general features pertaining to structure, function, isotype, and the role of complement in antibody function examines the role of antibodies in antimicrobial immunity with specific targets details new methods for expression of monoclonal antibodies, in plants or by transfer of antibody genes for in vivo expression in treated subjects Antibodies for Infectious Diseases is a comprehensive reference for researchers, pharmaceutical developers, and health care professionals on the status of the development of antibody-based therapies for treating infectious diseases. It is also useful as supplemental reading for upper level life sciences students. If you are looking for online access to the latest clinical microbiology content, please visit www.wiley.com/learn/clinmicronow.

Molecular Biology of B Cells, Second Edition is a comprehensive reference to how B cells are generated, selected, activated and engaged in antibody production. All of these developmental and stimulatory processes are described in molecular, immunological, and genetic terms to give a clear understanding of complex phenotypes. Molecular Biology of B Cells, Second Edition offers an integrated view of all aspects of B cells to produce a normal immune response as a constant, and the molecular basis of numerous diseases due to B cell abnormality. The new edition continues its success with updated research on microRNAs in B cell development and immunity, new developments in understanding lymphoma biology, and therapeutic targeting of B cells for clinical application. With updated research and continued comprehensive coverage of all aspects of B cell biology, Molecular Biology of B Cells, Second Edition is the definitive resource, vital for researchers across molecular biology, immunology and genetics. Covers signaling mechanisms regulating B cell differentiation Provides information on the development of therapeutics using monoclonal antibodies and clinical application of Ab Contains studies on B cell tumors from various stages of B lymphocytes Offers an integrated view of all aspects of B cells to produce a normal immune response

This volume examines all facets of the complex biology of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which play an essential role in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases and immunity to parasites. It highlights the unique mechanisms involved in the regulation of IgE production at both the molecular and cellular level. Furthermore, it discusses in detail novel findings on how the affinity, specificity and cross-reactivity of IgE can fine-tune mast cell responses to allergens. The book also explores the beneficial roles of IgE antibodies in immunity to helminthes and protection against tumors, and how the properties of IgE-mediated immunity are employed in the development of IgE therapeutic antibodies. All chapters were written by respected experts in their fields and will appeal to scientists and clinicians alike.

The Antibody Molecule follows the extraordinary journey of the medics and scientists who shaped the course of medical advances in the field of immunology. One of the oldest of the medical sciences, immunology has a history that has seen chemists, physicists and biologists alike seeking to unravel the most complex system in the human body outside the brain. This book charts its intriguing history, from the genetic basis of antibody diversity, through the understanding of the mechanism by which the immune system's first line of defence works, to breakthroughs in crystallography and the exploitation of immunoglobulins as therapeutic platforms to treat cancer, inflammation and allergy. Tracing the developments in immunology in chronological order, Professor Anthony R. Rees presents the historical contexts of the periods in rich detail, bringing them to life with quotes and illustrations. This fascinating book examines the literature of the time, turning points, and controversies. A must read for immunologists and life scientists, as well as historians of science and medicine.

Antibodies protect us from a wide range of infectious diseases and cancers and have become an indispensable tool in science-both for conventional immune response research as well as other areas related to protein identification analysis. This second edition of Making and Using Antibodies: A Practical Handbook provides clear guidance on all aspects

Antibody Fc is the first single text to synthesize the literature on the mechanisms underlying the dramatic variability of antibodies to influence the immune response. The book demonstrates the importance of the Fc domain, including protective mechanisms, effector cell types, genetic data, and variability in Fc domain function. This volume is a critical single-source reference for researchers in vaccine discovery, immunologists, microbiologists, oncologists and protein engineers as well as graduate students in immunology and vaccinology. Antibodies represent the correlate of protection for numerous vaccines and are the most rapidly growing class of drugs, with applications ranging from cancer and infectious disease to autoimmunity. Researchers have long understood the variable domain of antibodies, which are responsible for antigen recognition, and can provide protection by blocking the function of their target antigen. However, recent developments in our understanding of the protection mediated by antibodies have highlighted the critical nature of the antibody constant, or Fc domain, in the biological activity of antibodies. The Fc domain allows antibodies to link the adaptive and innate immune systems, providing specificity to a wide range of innate effector cells. In addition, they provide a feedback loop to regulate the character of the immune response via interactions with B cells and antigen-presenting cells. Clarifies the different mechanisms of IgG activity at the level of the different model systems used, including human genetic, mouse, and in vitro Covers the role of antibodies in cancer, infectious disease, and autoimmunity and in the setting of monoclonal antibody therapy as well as naturally raised antibodies Color illustrations enhance explanations of the immune system

This volume gathers the leading research on antibody-drug conjugates and immunotoxins. Following a rigorous overview, the volume delves into focused sections on all aspects of ADCs and ITs from clinical development through to targeted therapeutic applications and the latest technologies.

This book focuses on the function of antibodies in vivo. Recent years have seen an exponential growth in knowledge about the molecular and cellular mechanisms of antibody activity. These new results dramatically changed our view of how antibodies function in vivo. The importance of this class of molecules is demonstrated by the heightened susceptibility to infections of humans and mice with an altered capacity to generate pathogen specific antibody responses. Thus, the majority of our currently available vaccines, such as vaccines against influenza, measles and hepatitis focus on the generation of long lasting antibody responses. Recent evidence from a variety of in vivo model systems and from human patient cohorts has highlighted the exclusive role of cellular Fc-receptors for certain immunoglobulin isotypes and subclasses. With the recent discovery of a human Fc-receptor for IgM all different human immunoglobulin isotypes now have a cellular receptor, providing a feedback mechanism and link between antibodies and the cellular components of the immune system. Moreover it has become clear the complement and Fc-receptor system are tightly connected and regulate each other to ensure a well balanced immune response. Among the immunoglobulin isotypes IgG plays a very important protective role against microbial infections and also as a therapeutic agent to kill tumor cells or autoantibody producing B cells in autoimmune disease. Transfer of our knowledge about the crucial function of Fc-receptors has led to the production of a second generation of therapeutic antibodies with enhanced binding to this class of receptors. Binding of antibodies to Fc-receptors leads to the recruitment of the potent pro-inflammatory effector functions of cells from the innate immune system. Hence, Fc-receptors link the innate and adaptive immune system, emphasizing the importance of both arms of the immune system and their crosstalk during anti-microbial immune responses. Besides this pro-inflammatory activity immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules are long known to also have an anti-inflammatory function. This is demonstrated by the use of high dose intravenous immunoglobulins as a therapeutic agent in many human autoimmune diseases. During the past five years several new insights into the molecular and cellular pathways of this anti-inflammatory activity were gained radically changing our view of IgG function in vivo. Several lines of evidence suggest that the sugar moiety attached to the IgG molecule is responsible for these opposing activities and may be seen as a molecular switch enabling the immune system to change IgG function from a pro- to an anti-inflammatory activity. There is convincing evidence in mice and humans that aberrant IgG glycosylation could be an important new pathway for understanding the impaired antibody activity during autoimmune disease. Besides this tremendous increase in basic knowledge about factors influencing immunoglobulin activity the book will also provide insights into how these new insights might help to generate novel therapeutic approaches to enhance IgG activity for tumor therapy on the one hand, and how to block the self-destructive activity of IgG autoantibodies during autoimmune disease on the other hand.

Many pathogens and aberrant malignant cells express unique carbohydrates on their surface representing attractive targets for vaccine design. Considerable progress has recently been made in the identification of novel carbohydrate based vaccines and a large number has reached clinical phase studies. The success of several licensed carbohydrate based vaccines against bacterial pathogens such as Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumoniae demonstrates their great potential. However, the study of anti-carbohydrate antibodies is technically challenging and partly because of low affinities and promiscuous specificity they have not been medically exploited to full potential. The study of antibody specificities and identification of protective carbohydrate epitopes lies at the heart of successful vaccine design. In addition to therapy, antibodies in general serve as diagnostic tools in medical and scientific laboratories. In this setting high affinity and exquisite specificity are important factors for their successful use. “Anticarbohydrate Antibodies – from molecular basis to clinical application” compiles current knowledge on the immunological recognition of carbohydrates by the adaptive immune system from a molecular perspective providing fundamental insight needed for advancing clinically relevant diagnostics and therapeutic applications. Based on significant progress in the fields of glycoimmunology and structural biology in recent years, the book comprehensively reviews the state-of-the-art in defining the key elements of carbohydrate recognition by antibodies, the molecular mimicry of carbohydrate epitopes as well as the molecular features leading to specific and relaxed binding modes. Backed-up by a combination of modern technologies to elucidate structural details of carbohydrate-antibody interactions, biomedically important carbohydrate antigens from viral, bacterial, parasite, insect and tumor cells have beenanalyzed in in-depth reviews written by well-known experts in the field. Fundamental knowledge of these molecular mechanisms eventually provides a rational basis to improve efficacy of carbohydrate-based vaccines and to further refine diagnostic tools in detection of pathogens and malignant cells.

Antibodies Applications and New Developments is an overview of the current developments of techniques and methods relating to immunodiagnostics and immunoanalysis. This e-book also deals with specialties in the fields of drug, pesticide, antigen and food contaminant detection. The volume should be useful for professional immunologists and biotechnologists interested in antibody research and development.

This volume illustrates the functional properties of NAbs. Authors from pioneering groups report in their chapters on the tissue homeostatic, tissue regenerating and regulatory properties of NAbs and NAbs in pooled human IgG. Scientists interested in the regulation and modulation of components of the immune system found a whole variety of NAbs to cytokines with regulatory and protective functions and NAbs that modulate, e.g., dendritic cells, regulatory T cells, B cells and granulocytes. Considering the large plasma pools and initial difficulties in preparing IVIG that does not induce adverse effects upon infusion into recipients, this volume ends with a historical chapter on how pooled human plasma was fractionated and the IgG component pretreated for a safe intravenous application.

Chapter 1 - Antibody Chapter 2 - Immunoglobulin Light Chain and Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Chapter 3 - Autoantibody Chapter 4 - Anti-Mitochondrial Antibody and Anti-Nuclear Antibody Chapter 5 - Microantibody and Neutralizing Antibody Chapter 6 - Monoclonal Antibodies Chapter 7 - Anti-Topoisomerase Antibodies and Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Chapter 8 - Anti-Ganglioside Antibodies and Anti-Thrombin Antibodies Chapter 9 - Lupus Anticoagulant and Anti-Gliadin Antibodies Chapter 10 - Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody and Anti-Apolipoprotein Antibodies Chapter 11 - Polyclonal Antibodies Chapter 12 - Immunoglobulin A and Immunoglobulin D Chapter 13 - Immunoglobulin E and Immunoglobulin G

Monoclonal antibodies have become important treatments for cancer, inflammation and a wide range of other diseases, representing an increasing share of the most successful pharmaceutical markets. The technologies to discover these drugs have been developed by select centers of excellence in industry and academia, and are continually being fine tuned in the race to identify the best antibody-based drug candidates and accelerate their paths to patients. The objective of this volume is to provide a series of guides to those evaluating and preparing to enter particular areas within the field and to offer specialized perspectives to established researchers. The chapters set into context the significance of key developments and important considerations for selecting different approaches, such as antibody humanization, isotype selection, lead candidate selection criteria and protein production. All contributors to this work are experts in their fields, and many have played pivotal roles in the creation of these technologies.

As recent advances in immunosuppression and apheresis techniques have opened new avenues for the management of humoral immunity, interest in ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation has been renewed. Moreover, new screening techniques - such as the single antigen bead assay - allow for the detection and definition of very low levels of alloantibody, which has had a positive impact on the treatment possibilities in highly sensitized adult patients with end-stage renal disease. But despite these advances, a theoretical rationale is still missing for both the decision to transplant a sensitized patient and the classification of the transplant as low, medium or high risk. There is also no uniform approach with regard to pre-transplant desensitization protocols, and it is unclear whether particular post-transplant immunosuppression will be required and what would be the best combination treatment. Last but not least, the frequency and actual clinical impact of alloantibodies developed after transplantation on short- and long-term graft survival need to be ascertained. Aimed especially at the clinician, this publication presents recent insights in the characterization and pathogenetic role of humoral immunity in chronic allograft injury and investigates the perspectives for novel immunosuppressive therapies to control antibody production after transplantation.

Although the utility of human antibodies as medical therapeutics for cancer and immune diseases has been well-established, it is only beginning to be realized for the treatment of viral infectious diseases. Polyclonal immunoglobulins have long been used for some viral diseases, but they have limited potency and disease scope. It should theoretically be possible to create monoclonal or oligoclonal antibody preparations that capture the essential curative functions of the humoral immune response to viral pathogens, yet only a single humanized monoclonal antibody (pavilizumab) has been approved as a viral countermeasure. Reliable technologies for creating human or humanized antibodies with defined viral antigen specificities are well-established. Accordingly, current antibody development efforts are focused on identifying and cloning the particular antibodies that contain the fundamental curative potency of the polyclonal humoral immune response.

Advances in Immunology, a long established and highly respected serial, presents current developments as well as comprehensive reviews in immunology. Articles address the wide range of topics that comprise immunology, including molecular and cellular activation mechanisms, phylogeny and molecular evolution, and clinical modalities. Edited and authored by the foremost scientists in the field, each volume provides up-to-date information and directions for future research.

Antibodies are an indispensable tool in the study of biology and medicine. Making and Using Antibodies: A Practical Handbook presents techniques in a single, comprehensive source for the production and use of antibodies. It enables researchers to immediately access lab-tested, proven protocols. Written and edited by an elite team of scienti

Since the introduction of recombinant human growth hormone and insulin a quarter century ago, protein therapeutics has greatly broadened the ho- zon of health care. Many patients suffering with life-threatening diseases or chronic dysfunctions, which were medically untreatable not long ago, can attest to the wonder these drugs have achieved. Although the?rst generation of p- tein therapeutics was produced in recombinant Escherichia coli, most recent products use mammalian cells as production hosts. Not long after the?rst p- duction of recombinant proteins in E. coli, it was realized that the complex tasks of most post-translational modi?cations on proteins could only be ef?ciently carried out in mammalian cells. In the 1990s, we witnessed a rapid expansion of mammalian-cell-derived protein therapeutics, chie?y antibodies. In fact, it has been nearly a decade since the market value of mammalian-cell-derived protein therapeutics surpassed that of those produced from E. coli. A common characteristic of recent antibody products is the relatively large dose required for effective therapy, demanding larger quantities for the treatment of a given disease. This, coupled with the broadening repertoire of protein drugs, has rapidly expanded the quantity needed for clinical applications. The increasing demand for protein therapeutics has not been met exclusively by construction of new manufacturing plants and increasing total volume capacity. More - portantly the productivity of cell culture processes has been driven upward by an order of magnitude in the past decade.

Molecular Biology of B Cells, Third Edition is a comprehensive reference to how B cells are generated, selected, activated, and engaged in antibody production. These developmental and stimulatory processes are described in molecular, immunological, and genetic terms to give a clear understanding of complex phenotypes. Molecular Biology of B Cells, Third Edition offers an integrated view of all aspects of B cells to produce a normal immune response as a constant, and the molecular basis of numerous diseases due to B cell abnormality. The new edition continues its success with updated research on B cell development and function, the use of therapeutic antibodies in cancer and infectious disease, therapeutic targeting of B cells for clinical application, new developments in lymphoma biology. With updated research and continued comprehensive coverage of all aspects of B cell biology, Molecular Biology of B Cells, Third Edition is the definitive resource, vital for researchers across molecular biology, immunology, and genetics.Provides new research on normal versus abnormal B cell development and functionContains studies on therapeutic antibodies in cancer and infectious diseasesCovers research on therapeutically targeting B cells in inflammation or autoimmune diseases

Molecular Biology of B Cells is a comprehensive reference to how B cells are generated, selected, activated and engaged in antibody production. All these developmental and stimulatory processes are described in molecular and genetic terms to give a clear understanding of complex phenotyes. The molecular basis of many diseases due to B cell abnormality is also discussed. This definitive reference is directed at research level immunologists, molecular biologists and geneticists.

Leading investigators and clinicians detail the different mechanisms used by tumors to escape and impair the immune system and then spell out possible clinical strategies to prevent or reverse tumor-induced immune dysfunction. The authors review the mechanisms of immune dysfunction and evasion mechanisms in histologically diverse human tumors, focusing on tumor-induced molecular defects in T cells and antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells and tumors), that may serve as biomarkers for patient prognosis. They discuss the means by which these immune functions may be protected or restored in order to more effectively support the process of tumor rejection in situ. Cutting-edge techniques are outlined with the capacity to monitor the strength and quality of patients'immune responses using immunocytometry, MHC-peptide tetramers combined with apoptosis assay, ELISPOT assay, and detection of MHC-TAA peptide complexes on tumor cells.

From diagnostic tools to therapy against cancer, infections and autoimmune diseases, antibodies serve many purposes, yet our knowledge of them is still incomplete. The Antibodies: Volume 7 continues with a comprehensive review of topics of contemporary interest including major breakthroughs such as the advent of monoclonal antibodies and the develo

Bruce R. Smoller, md, concisely reviews for practitioners and students alike the science of immunopathology, its many basic laboratory tools, and their multiple diagnostic uses in actual clinical case studies. The author presents in an easily digestible form a dictionary of antibody probes, summarizing for each antibody the targeted antigen and its cellular function, its diagnostic utility, and, when available, its sensitivities and specificities for identifying various neoplasms. Real clinical cases from the author's practice demonstrate the benefits of immunopathology.

Written for researchers and professionals in the fields of biomedical research, immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology, pathology, and biotechnology, Basic Methods in Antibody Production and Characterization uses a cookbook approach to presenting the methods for the production, characterization, and use of antibodies. Antibodies described

The FactsBook series has established itself as the best source of easily accessible and accurate facts about protein groups. Books in the series use an easy-to-follow format and are meticulously researched and compiled by experts in the field.The Immunoglobulin FactsBook is the first published reference for all 203 human functional and ORF immunoglobulin genes. It is complete and standardized and employs nomenclature approved by the HUGO Nomenclature Committee.

Catalytic antibodies have attracted attention because they can combine exquisite specificity with permanent and potent antigen inactivation. The field has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years due to the discovery of antibodies with comparatively efficient peptidase and nuclease activities. In principle, antibody catalysis could serve as a platform technology for curing hitherto intractable human diseases, a potential which is exemplified by the availability of catalysts capable of cleaving biologically important targets such as HIV coat proteins. Equally important, catalytic antibodies to physiologically important target autoantigens have been identified in disease. This volume addresses fundamental questions concerning the immunological genesis of the catalytic activity in antibodies, its relationship with classical antigen binding activity, and the biochemical mechanisms involved in catalysis. The contents reflect three main challenges in the field, i.e. to delineate the biological functions of catalytic antibodies in autoimmune disease; to isolate therapy-grade antibody catalysts with sufficient specificity and turnover to permit rapid removal of microbial and tumor antigens; and to develop immunogens that recruit immature catalyst-producing B cells into the clonal selection pathway and induce adaptive improvements of the catalytic function. Well-edited and up-to-date, this book reviews the current knowledge in the field and explores ways by which natural and engineered catalytic activities can be harnessed for medical applications. It should therefore be of special interest to immunologists, biochemists, biotechnologists, rheumatologists and pathologists.

The use of monoclonal antibodies in treating disease has long held tantalizing promise, and the recent explosion of successful clinical trials-leading to the licensing of novel antibody-based therapeutic agents-has clearly demonstrated the power of recombinant antibody engineering, and greatly rejuvenated interest in their emergent clinical applications. In Diagnostic and Therapeutic Antibodies, a team of experts comprehensively reviews the theoretical and practical aspects of applying antibodies in both the laboratory and clinic. For general understanding, the book thoroughly introduces the basic science of the antibody molecule, including its structure and generation. Several novel in vivo applications of therapeutic antibodies are then presented to illustrate their special value in varied clinical settings. For those new to the field, there are readily reproducible methods for generating and purifying antibodies and for modifying them for clinical application, including how to measure their affinity and immunoactivity, and how to employ them in staining procedures and in a variety of in vitro assays. Timely and comprehensive, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Antibodies offers today{608}s clinical researchers a concise introduction to the field, as well as a highly useful compendium of practical protocols that will greatly facilitate the application of these powerful new diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

The Antibodies presents models, theories, and techniques of molecular biology for understanding the mechanisms of antibody action, including the genetics, and receptor and channel action. This book includes applications of engineered antibodies in diagnosis, immunotherapy, and protein purification. It provides new insights into the structural basis

Intended for specialists in B cell immunology, investigating such topics as movement of a monoclonal antibody from the laboratory into the clinic, the field of Fc receptors and the impact of monoclonal antibodies on diagnosis and treatment of human

The Novartis Foundation Series is a popular collection of the proceedings from Novartis Foundation Symposia, in which groups of leading scientists from a range of topics across biology, chemistry and medicine assembled to present papers and discuss results. The Novartis Foundation, originally known as the Ciba Foundation, is well known to scientists and clinicians around the world.

Immunity, Cancer, and Chemotherapy focuses on the interference of drugs on antibody response and transplantation immunity. The selection first offers information on the effects of immunosuppressive drugs on cellular changes after antigenic stimulation and specialized cell function in the lymphoid and reticuloendothelial cell series. Topics include effects of immunosuppressive drugs on the sensitization process; cellular changes in lymphoid tissue following sensitization; and demonstration of differences in antigen handling among cells of the reticuloendothelial system. The text also takes a look at allogeneic inhibition and its possible relation to cell-bound immunity in vitro and the effects of immunosuppressive drugs at various stages of differentiation of immunologically competent cells. The publication examines a study of antibody-containing cells in the course of immunization and cellular differentiation during immune responses studied with electron microscope and radioautography. The text also elaborates on ambiguity in the translation of genetic code into proteins, induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents and cellular kinetics of immune response. The selection is a dependable source of information for readers interested in effects of drugs on antibody response and transplantation immunity.

A vast number of neural cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily have been isolated over the past two decades. In functional studies, many of them have been shown to confer adhesive properties to cells and to play an important role in developmental processes such as cell migration and axon outgrowth. Recent observation

The last decade has witnessed remarkable developments in antibody research and its therapeutic applications. With the methods of molecular biology it is now possible to manipulate the specificities and activities of antibody molecules to generate an almost limitless array of structures for both basic investigations and the clinical setting. The contributions to this volume cover all three domains of the antibody: the variable regions, the relatively neglected but crucial hinge, and the constant region. These studies provide critical structural and functional information about antibodies, while also pointing the way to the construction of molecules with enhanced or even novel properties. Bringing together major experts on antibody engineering, this book is highly recommended to faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, cancer research and genetics.

The Antigens, Volume VI is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology as well as their immunologic role and expression. Parasite antigens and their immunogenicity in infected hosts are explored, along with the nature of the antibody-combining site and the phenomenon of immunological tolerance. Comprised of three chapters, this volume begins with a discussion on the dynamic aspects of the function of antibodies, paying particular attention to the structure of immunoglobulins and the folding of their domains; the dynamics of segmental flexibility; the kinetics of antibody-hapten association and the kinetic expression of elementary interaction; and the conformational transitions within the antibody molecule induced by hapten binding. The next chapter focuses on the immunogenicity of parasite antigens in infected hosts, citing such parasites as trypanosomes, Schistosoma mansoni, and Fasciola hepatica. The last chapter deals with immunological tolerance, its induction and duration, and its effect on the specificity of the immune response. This monograph will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

The Antigens, Volume IV is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology as well as their immunologic role and expression. Topics covered range from the immune reactions of lipids and lipid model membranes to the immunology of antibiotics and protective antigens of bacteria. Antigens of pathogenic fungi are also explored, along with adjuvants and antigenic competition. Comprised of seven chapters, this volume begins with a review of lipids as antigens, followed by a discussion on the immunological aspects of antibiotics. The next two chapters are concerned with more complex antigens, namely, bacteria and fungi, as well as the relationship between immunity and infection. The last three chapters deal with three important areas of immunology: antigenic competition, adjuvants, and lectins. In particular, the chemistry of lectins and their application to immunology are examined. This monograph will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

The Antigens, Volume III is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology as well as their immunologic role and expression. Topics covered range from microbial polysaccharides and lymphocytic receptors for antigens to antigenic determinants and antibody-combining sites. Allergens and the genetics of allergy are also explored. Comprised of seven chapters, this volume begins with a review of microbial polysaccharides as antigens, followed by a discussion on antigenic determinants and their specific reaction with antibody-combining sites. The reader is then introduced to the reaction of antigens with their specific receptors on lymphocytes. The next four chapters are concerned with several categories of more complex antigens which, in most cases, have yet to be characterized adequately at a molecular level: allergens, histocompatibility antigens, antigens of Mycoplasmatales and chlamydiae, and animal viruses. The book concludes with an analysis of virus infections and the immune responses they elicit. This monograph will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

Antibodies in Cell Biology focuses on a new generation of protocols aimed at the cell biologist. This laboratory manual features systems and techniques that are especially relevant for modern problems. The contributing authors have been carefully chosen for their specific expertise, and have provided detailed protocols, recipes, and troubleshooting guides in each chapter. The book is designed for any researcher or student who needs to use antibodies in cell biology and related research areas.Practical applications and future emphases of antibodies, including: Light microscopic immunolocalization of antigens Gold particles in immunoelectron microscopy Special methods of fixation and permeabilization Microinjection of antibodies into living cells Antibodies to identify cDNA clones Antisense antibody strategies

In Hepatitis C Protocols, Johnson YN Lau and his expert collaborators present cutting-edge techniques for study of the hepatitis C virus infection and its disease, hepatitis C, which afflict an estimated 170 million people worldwide. The methods range from the detection of anti-HCV in serum and HCV in liver tissue, to HCV genotyping and the detection and quantification of HCV in serum. In addition to these key protocols, the authoritative contributors also evaluate recombinant proteins in immunological test systems, including the identification of important antigenic epitopes, antibodies, and recombinant antigens. Molecular and immunological techniques to study this virus and its infection, as well as animal models and recombinant virus technology commonly used to express hepatitis C viral proteins, are also developed. Hepatitis C Protocols summarizes the state-of-the-art in today's research and understanding of the virology of hepatitis C virus. The methods and systems detailed in this book will play a key role in the development of more effective antivirals, in the development of vaccines, and in a deeper understanding of viral replication strategies, viron structure, and the mechanisms of viron assembly and release. A valuable new standard resource for all researchers and clinicians, Hepatitis C Protocols leads the way toward improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of viral hepatitis C.