Review by Kathy Lyon (Click on stars for an explanation)

You may purchase this book in the VIN store.

This concise student supplementary text covers all of the basics of immunology, including chapters on the origin and function of hemopoietic and lymphopoietic cells; nonspecific immunity; antigens; complement; cell receptors and cytokines associated with the immune response; specific immune responses; and responses to bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminthes, and tumors. The organization follows a natural progression - beginning with basic concepts and proceeding to what immunity does to protect the body and what happens when things go wrong.

The chapters on immunology are up-to-date, which is important with this rapidly growing science. There is a thorough discussion of immunodiagnostic techniques and AIDS, along with excellent figures and tables illustrating principles and summarizing data. The glossaries at the end of each chapter supplement the cumulative glossary. This book will help both students and clinicians in grasping this difficult and important topic.

Blackwell Publishing (2002). Soft-cover, 182 pages, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" format, illustrated. ISBN-10: 0-8138-1599-1, ISBN-13: 9780813815992.

Reviewed 2/4/2002.