• Pattern recognition molecules, including Toll-like receptors
• Antigen cross-presentation
• Diversity of NK cell receptors
• Immune tolerance and the role of regulatory T-cells
• Suppressor T-cells
• Infection and immunity
• Expanding clinical use of monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents
• Modern techniques in immunology and genetic analysis, such as plasmon surface resonance, two-photon phase microscopy and the use of labeled MHC-antigen tetramers
• Emerging and spreading infectious diseases and bioterrorism including influenza and the avian flu strains, SARS, AIDS, and the reported link between human papilloma virus and cervical cancer.
...all within the context of the seminal new experiments from the field.
More Effective Organization, revised in consultation with numerous teachers to make connections between related topics clearer while avoiding redundancies:
• Antibody and Antigen chapters are now combined (Chapter 4)
• Complement chapter moved earlier to follow antibody chapters (Chapter 7)
• MHC and Antigen Presentation chapters are now combined (Chapter 8)
New and Revised End-of-Chapter Questions, including all-new Analyze the Data questions, which employ modern literature and quantitative data, and challenge students to extrapolate information with the tools learned from the text.