A practical response to the increase of interest in the fields of interferon and lymphokine research, presenting the techniques involved with these independent areas of research.

Lymphokines: A Forum for Immunoregulatory Cell Products deals with immunoregulatory cell products that produce lymphokines. Topics covered include the purification and characterization of transfer factor; activation of cytotoxicity and/or suppressor activity in murine macrophages by lymphokines, lipopolysaccharide, and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid; and the role of clotting processes in the action of lymphokines on macrophages. A comparison of the immune-modulating effects of interferon and interferon inducers is also presented. Comprised of 13 chapters, this volume begins with a discussion on transfer factor and its ability to react specifically with antigens. The clinical uses of transfer factor are considered with special emphasis on its value as a prophylactic agent. The reader is then introduced to the subject of T cell regulation of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) response via potentiating and suppressor lymphokines, together with the possible clinical application of IgE suppressive factors in the treatment of atopic diseases. Subsequent chapters examine the evidence in favor of the existence of T cell-derived polyclonal B cell activator (PBA) playing a role in both normal antibody responses and autoimmune diseases; the role of suppressor T cells and the associated lymphokines in contact sensitivity in mice; and lymphokine action on macrophages. The book also analyzes the genetics of the response of human and mouse cells to interferons. This monograph will be helpful to practitioners and researchers in the fields of microbiology and immunology.

Biology of the Lymphokines discusses the scope and diversity of lymphokine research. This book focuses on the studies on lymphokines, such as those involving cellular source, chemical nature, purification strategies, and bioassay limitations. The mechanism of lymphokine action, lymphokines in vivo, and value of lymphokine quantitations are also covered. This text describes the repertoire of lymphokines produced by various lymphoblastoid cell lines and its significance for coping with the problem of large scale lymphokine production. The anti-viral and general immunoregulatory properties of interferons and rationale developed for integrating interferons with the family of lymphokines are likewise deliberated. This publication is a good source for students and researchers conducting work on lymphokines.

Human Lymphokines: The Biological Immune Response Modifiers is a collection of papers presented at the Third International Symposium on Human Lymphokines held on October 15-17, 1981 at the Wadley Institutes of Molecular Medicine in Dallas, Texas. Contributors explore the role of human lymphokines in immune responses and their applications in immunotherapy. The focus is on lymphokines that have either entered clinical trials or are nearing clinical evaluation. Some of the activities of possible immediate significance, such as Glia cell stimulating factor and polyclonal B-cell activator, are also described. This volume is organized into six sections encompassing 56 chapters and begins with an overview of assay systems, touching on topics such as the activation of macrophages by interferon to produce plasminogen and macrophage activation by lymphokine factors. The next sections turn to the production, purification, and biological and chemical characterization of lymphokines. The discussion then shifts to the mechanisms of action of lymphokines in vitro and the use of animal models in lymphokine investigations, including lymphokine fractions in a mouse tumor model and enhancement of natural killing activity by different types of interferon. A great deal of emphasis is placed on macrophage migration inhibitory factor, lymphotoxins, gamma interferon, and interleukins. The book concludes with chapters devoted to the immunoregulatory effects of lymphokines and clinical studies.

Biotechnology and Pharmacy offers a unique overview of the principles of biotechnology and their applications in the pharmaceutical sciences. The book assumes a basic knowledge of biology and chemistry and was written as a text suitable for students of pharmacy or other health sciences. The first part of the book describes the basic elements of biotechnology, such as recombinant DNA and monoclonal antibody technology; the second part comprehensively covers applications of biotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of disease; and the final part offers a practical discussion of how biotechnology products will affect the practice of pharmacy. Microbiologists, biochemists, and medicinal chemists will also find this book to be a valuable reference.

Milton Taylor, Indiana University, offers an easy-to-read and fascinating text describing the impact of viruses on human society. The book starts with an analysis of the profound effect that viral epidemics had on world history resulting in demographic upheavals by destroying total populations. It also provides a brief history of virology and immunology. Furthermore, the use of viruses for the treatment of cancer (viral oncolysis or virotherapy) and bacterial diseases (phage therapy) and as vectors in gene therapy is discussed in detail. Several chapters focus on viral diseases such as smallpox, influenza, polio, hepatitis and their control, as well as on HIV and AIDS and on some emerging viruses with an interesting story attached to their discovery or vaccine development. The book closes with a chapter on biological weapons. It will serve as an invaluable source of information for beginners in the field of virology as well as for experienced virologists, other academics, students, and readers without prior knowledge of virology or molecular biology.