IMMUNOLOGY - Roitt I. - Mir 2000

Preface

The fifth edition of Immunology is thoroughly revised and expanded, even though the previous one appeared just two years ago. Striving to keep pace with rapidly advancing immunological science, we have substantially updated every chapter and incorporated new findings. The chapters on cellular and humoral Immunity have been completely rewritten to reflect MODERN CONCEPTS OF Th1/Th2 Immune Response pathways. Among the numerous additions are new sections on cytokines, natural killer Cells, and signal Transduction pathways during B- and T-Cell activation.

The Structure and arrangement of the material have been brought in line with contemporary immunology curricula. Greater emphasis is placed on immunodeficiencies, which are now covered in two dedicated chapters: one addressing primary and the other secondary immunodeficiencies.

The glossary and Appendices have been significantly expanded and updated; the cytokine table has nearly doubled in size and now includes interleukin-18.

Our goal was to make the book as accessible and reader-friendly as possible. Each chapter opens with a summary of Key Concepts and concludes with Review Questions to reinforce comprehension. The section headings throughout each chapter capture the core idea of that specific text segment.

We hope this book successfully achieves its primary objective: a clear presentation of the fundamental principles of clinical immunology integrated with data from Histology, pathomorphology, and clinical descriptions. In the English edition, this is further supported by the companion text Case Studies in Immunology and the new CD-ROM Immunology Interactive 2.0, designed to help students master the subject alongside their core reading.

We wish our readers every success in their study of immunology—a truly fascinating pursuit.

Throughout the editorial process, we relied on the dedication of an exceptionally hardworking publishing team comprising D. Zak, L. Crow, P. Wilder, L. Horrell, and C. Waters. They worked with unwavering enthusiasm under the skilled direction of F. Foley.

Class="right">I. Roitt, J. Brostoff, D. Male