Medical Immunology

Immunology is a fast evolving subject, and attempt has been made in this work to keep it as much up-to-date as possible according to the requirement of the students and researchers in the field. Immunology is the branch of medicine concerned with the body’s defence system known as the immune system. Immunologists study how the immune system functions and they treat patients with immune system disorders. The immune system have touched virtually all specialties in medicine. Diagnostic techniques such as flow cytometry have improved the capability of clinicians to assess immunocompetence and immunodeficiency. Immunomodulatory agents are the standard of care for a variety of rheumatologic, neurologic, and allergic disorders. Monoclonal antibodies are now used in the treatment of cardiovascular, neoplastic, and inflammatory conditions. Immunology is the branch of biomedical science that deals with the response of an organism to antigenic challenge and its recognition of what is self and what is not. It deals with the defence mechanisms including all physical, chemical and biological properties of the organism that help it to combat its susceptibility to foreign organisms, material, etc. The immune system is a highly regulated and balanced system and when the balance is disturbed, disease can result. Research in this area involves studying disease that is caused by immune system dysfunction. Much of this work has significance in the development of new therapies and treatments that can manage or cure the condition by altering the way the immune system is working or, in the case of vaccines, priming the immune system and boosting the immune reaction to specific pathogens. This book is presented in a user-friendly mode, aiming to rally the needs of not only the students and teachers but also professional in the field.