The Antigens, Volume VII is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology as well as their immunologic role and expression. Different aspects of the genetic control of the immune response are explored, along with the link between infection and autoimmunity. Comprised of four chapters, this volume begins with a discussion on the determinant-specific genetic regulation of the immune response and the genes that control it. The next chapter deals with the molecular genetics and polymorphism of of class II (Ia) antigens, as well as the correlation between immunogenetic and molecular genetic maps. The antigen-specific T cell clones and the specific factors derived from them are then examined. The last chapter considers the relationship between infection and autoimmunity; the role of infection in the expression of class II antigens; and processes responsible for the induction of autoimmune diseases. A specific therapy for these diseases is described. This monograph will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

Ir Genes and Ia Antigens features papers that were presented at the Third Ir Gene Workshop held in Asilomar, California, December 13-16, 1976. The book is organized into seven parts that correspond to the seven sessions held during the workshop. The first session focused on the definition of the I-E and I-C subregions, and the mapping and cellular expression of complementing Ir genes. The second session included papers on the expression of gene products of the I region. The third session covered two major areas: (1) the biochemical characterization and primary structure of la antigens; and (2) the possible carbohydrate nature of la antigenic determinant. The studies presented in the fourth session focused on the role of I-region gene products in cellular interactions. The fifth session discussed the "recognition" functions controlled by the I region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The sixth session featured papers on la-containing T cell factors. Finally, the seventh session examined the properties of T-cell antigen receptors.

The Antigens, Volume I is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology, structure and function, their initiation of the immune response, and the nature of the products of this response. The nature of the reaction of antigens with antibodies and with sensitized cells is also explored. Comprised of seven chapters, this volume begins with a discussion on the antigenic functions of nucleic acids as well as their immunogenicity, hapten functions, and serologic reactions. The reader is then introduced to the immunochemistry and antigenic determinants of enzymes, along with the structure and phylogeny of immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin allotypes. The evolution of proteins and their structure and function is also considered, paying particular attention to evolution by the random fixation of selectively neutral alleles, the rates of protein evolution, gene duplication, and divergence or convergence. The final chapter is devoted to the chemistry and biology of immunoglobulin E as well as the regulation of formation of their antibodies. This book will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

The Role of Products of the Histocompatibility Gene Complex in Immune Responses documents the proceedings of a conference held on 3-7 November 1975, which brought together an international group of scientists spanning three independent disciplines—genetics and immunogenetics, molecular biochemistry, and immunobiology—with clinical medicine overlapping these disciplines. This volume contains 42 papers organized according to the eight sessions held at the conference. The papers in Session I examined the genetics of the major histocompatibility complex. Session II presented studies on the biology of mixed lymphocyte interactions and cell-mediated cytotoxicity reactions. Session III discussed immune response gene systems while Session IV dealt with the genetic control of cell interactions. The papers in Session V covered idiotypic determinants on T cell receptors. Session VI investigated the properties of histocompatibility gene products involved in regulation of immune responses. Session VII focused on the biochemistry and immunocytology of cell surface products of the major histocompatibility complex. Finally, Session VIII discussed interrelationships between products of the major histocompatibility complex and their relevance to disease.

The purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a ready source of information regarding Ia antigens in several animal species.The significance role played by the gene products of I regions in cell-cell interactions has stimulated interest in the characterization of Ia antigens. Through the effort of several investigations much information about the functional and structural properties of Ia antigens has been accumulated in recent years.