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Exquisite specificity—The monoclonal antibody revolution
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Enzyme ImmunoassaysmFrom Concept to Product Development by S S Deshpande. pp 464. C h a p m a n & Hall, London. 1996 ISBN 0-412-0560101 The author has to be commended for organising the twelve chapters so well. There are two parts to the book--the first part deals with basic considerations and the second with product development. The book begins with an impressive introduction, highlighting the primary aim of writing this book, which is to provide useful practical information for the development of a successful immunodiagnostic product based on enzyme immunoassay technology. The structure of antibodies, their function and their classification form the contents of the second chapter. Classification of the antigen-antibody reactions, the intermolecular forces involved in them, specificity and cross reactivity and their quantitation form the contents of the third chapter. The fourth chapter discusses the conjugation techniques, the chemical modification of functional groups, use of cross-linking reagents for protein conjugation and their practical aspects. The fifth chapter gives details of antibody production--preparation of immunogen, immunisation procedures, purification and storage are covered. The sixth chapter forms the main thrust of the book--it highlights the use of enzymes as immunoassay labels. The seventh chapter covers separation methods. They include chromatoelectrophoresis, chemical/fractional precipitation, adsorption, etc. The second part (with five chapters) covers product development. Here one learns of the classification of immunoassays, assay development, evaluation, validation, reagent formulations and data analysis. Quality control is an integral part of any immunoassay. Details about ISO 900 series standards are very clearly explained. Biochemists, immunologists and others undertaking immunology work (commercial or otherwise) should find this a useful book. U Anand and C V Anand
Introductory Immunobiology by H u w Davies. Pp 394. C h a p m a n & Hall, London. 1996. £24.99 ISBN-0-412-37240-1 The subject of Immunology is very well provided with a number of excellent textbooks which are regularly updated: Essential Immunology (Roitt), Immunology (Roitt, Brostoff and Male) and Immunology (Kuby) and several good foundation texts already serve the market very adequately. New Immunology texts have, therefore, to fill a niche with is underprovided and Introductory Immunobiology has attempted to do just that by studying the subject from a comparative viewpoint. Although the book concentrates on mammalian immunology, comparisons with other vertebrates as well as non-vertebrates are found throughout and this is indeed a laudable approach. The layout of the book is unusual and lacks the discrete structural framework of most texts in immunology. The author suggests that his approach is less fragmentary and obviates the need for a 'pre-existing conceptual framework' though I would not necessarily agree with him on this point. The book begins with a general discussion of the nature of defence against pathogens and covers various effector mechanisms including phagocytosis, complement and inflammation. Several chapters are devoted to aspects of the recognition of non-self, including the nature of the innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, antigen receptors, and the Major Histocompatibility Complex. In addition, there are chapters dealing with the cells and tissues of immune systems, on the evolution of the adaptive immune system signals and control and on tolerance. This approach is interesting and
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 25(3) 1997
certainly novel and the comparative stance given to each chapter works well, though some topics obviously lend themselves to this more than others. Each chapter comes with the now familiar format of text with marginal notes, boxes and end of chapter review questions. There is an additional glossary and appendices on CD molecules and immunoassays. While applauding the general approach of the book, I am concerned about its claims to be an introductory (foundation) text 'written for students.., encountering immunology for the first time as part of a broader course of study'. Such students would find this book rather difficult to cope with. In addition, there are a number of very complex diagrams which are difficult to understand, some of doubtful use to a foundation audience (why print a complete list of human MHC alleles for example?) and some with inadequate explanation. In short, while there is much to praise about this book, it seems to be trying to do too much and loses sight of its target audience in the process. Maureen M Dawson
Exquisite Specificity--The Monoclonal Antibody Revolution by Alberto Cambrosio and Peter Keting. Pp 243. Oxford University Press. 1995. £46.95 ISBN 0-19-509741-6 This book looks at the monoclonal antibody story from the perspective of sociologists and historians. As such it should appeal both to practising research scientists and to sociologists, philosophers and anthropologists who want a good example of a scientific story to study. Some important words in common currency to describe scientific research such as fact, technique, invention, discovery and know how are examined closely and new light is thrown on their utility and meaning. To a scientist who has studied no sociology, the volume may at first appear to be one to dip into. It chronicles the discovery (or invention?) of monoclonal antibodies from the early 1970s to the present day, introduces most of the main players and tells interesting stories. The scientist might only want to pick bits out at first because the sociology may seem a little obtuse. However, once in to reading this work, the sociologists' language begins to make sense and puts a new perspective both on the subject of this book and on the scientist's own work. I don't know if sociologists will find this to be a good example: they probably will. To me, personal details seem to be missing--some flesh on the bones of the characters involved. However, I expect that's deliberate. This is a serious volume. Susan Bright
Stress-inducible Cellular Responses Edited by U Feize, R I Morimoto, ! Yahara and B S Polla. pp 492. Birkhfiuser Verlag, Basel [hhtp://www.birkhauser. ch]. 1996. SFr 178 ISBN 3-7643-5205-1 Ever since living organisms evolved on earth, they have been exposed to environments which altered, sometimes gradually, sometimes rapidly. Adaptation to slow change is by mutation/ natural selection, but the need to cope with rapid change has led to the evolution of the Stress Response. This was originally reported as a response to small temperature change, the heat shock response in Drosophila (1962), but the production of stress or heat shock proteins has subsequently been shown to be a response of all cells. This response can be induced quickly and repeatedly. This book updates us on many aspects of the Stress Response in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, with reference to molecular chaperones or 'molecular undertakers' as one author thinks more appropriate (see p 73), cell signalling and the cell cycle and
Enzyme ImmunoassaysmFrom Concept to Product Development by S S Deshpande. pp 464. C h a p m a n & Hall, London. 1996 ISBN 0-412-0560101 The author has to be commended for organising the twelve chapters so well. There are two parts to the book--the first part deals with basic considerations and the second with product development. The book begins with an impressive introduction, highlighting the primary aim of writing this book, which is to provide useful practical information for the development of a successful immunodiagnostic product based on enzyme immunoassay technology. The structure of antibodies, their function and their classification form the contents of the second chapter. Classification of the antigen-antibody reactions, the intermolecular forces involved in them, specificity and cross reactivity and their quantitation form the contents of the third chapter. The fourth chapter discusses the conjugation techniques, the chemical modification of functional groups, use of cross-linking reagents for protein conjugation and their practical aspects. The fifth chapter gives details of antibody production--preparation of immunogen, immunisation procedures, purification and storage are covered. The sixth chapter forms the main thrust of the book--it highlights the use of enzymes as immunoassay labels. The seventh chapter covers separation methods. They include chromatoelectrophoresis, chemical/fractional precipitation, adsorption, etc. The second part (with five chapters) covers product development. Here one learns of the classification of immunoassays, assay development, evaluation, validation, reagent formulations and data analysis. Quality control is an integral part of any immunoassay. Details about ISO 900 series standards are very clearly explained. Biochemists, immunologists and others undertaking immunology work (commercial or otherwise) should find this a useful book. U Anand and C V Anand
Introductory Immunobiology by H u w Davies. Pp 394. C h a p m a n & Hall, London. 1996. £24.99 ISBN-0-412-37240-1 The subject of Immunology is very well provided with a number of excellent textbooks which are regularly updated: Essential Immunology (Roitt), Immunology (Roitt, Brostoff and Male) and Immunology (Kuby) and several good foundation texts already serve the market very adequately. New Immunology texts have, therefore, to fill a niche with is underprovided and Introductory Immunobiology has attempted to do just that by studying the subject from a comparative viewpoint. Although the book concentrates on mammalian immunology, comparisons with other vertebrates as well as non-vertebrates are found throughout and this is indeed a laudable approach. The layout of the book is unusual and lacks the discrete structural framework of most texts in immunology. The author suggests that his approach is less fragmentary and obviates the need for a 'pre-existing conceptual framework' though I would not necessarily agree with him on this point. The book begins with a general discussion of the nature of defence against pathogens and covers various effector mechanisms including phagocytosis, complement and inflammation. Several chapters are devoted to aspects of the recognition of non-self, including the nature of the innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, antigen receptors, and the Major Histocompatibility Complex. In addition, there are chapters dealing with the cells and tissues of immune systems, on the evolution of the adaptive immune system signals and control and on tolerance. This approach is interesting and
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION 25(3) 1997
certainly novel and the comparative stance given to each chapter works well, though some topics obviously lend themselves to this more than others. Each chapter comes with the now familiar format of text with marginal notes, boxes and end of chapter review questions. There is an additional glossary and appendices on CD molecules and immunoassays. While applauding the general approach of the book, I am concerned about its claims to be an introductory (foundation) text 'written for students.., encountering immunology for the first time as part of a broader course of study'. Such students would find this book rather difficult to cope with. In addition, there are a number of very complex diagrams which are difficult to understand, some of doubtful use to a foundation audience (why print a complete list of human MHC alleles for example?) and some with inadequate explanation. In short, while there is much to praise about this book, it seems to be trying to do too much and loses sight of its target audience in the process. Maureen M Dawson
Exquisite Specificity--The Monoclonal Antibody Revolution by Alberto Cambrosio and Peter Keting. Pp 243. Oxford University Press. 1995. £46.95 ISBN 0-19-509741-6 This book looks at the monoclonal antibody story from the perspective of sociologists and historians. As such it should appeal both to practising research scientists and to sociologists, philosophers and anthropologists who want a good example of a scientific story to study. Some important words in common currency to describe scientific research such as fact, technique, invention, discovery and know how are examined closely and new light is thrown on their utility and meaning. To a scientist who has studied no sociology, the volume may at first appear to be one to dip into. It chronicles the discovery (or invention?) of monoclonal antibodies from the early 1970s to the present day, introduces most of the main players and tells interesting stories. The scientist might only want to pick bits out at first because the sociology may seem a little obtuse. However, once in to reading this work, the sociologists' language begins to make sense and puts a new perspective both on the subject of this book and on the scientist's own work. I don't know if sociologists will find this to be a good example: they probably will. To me, personal details seem to be missing--some flesh on the bones of the characters involved. However, I expect that's deliberate. This is a serious volume. Susan Bright
Stress-inducible Cellular Responses Edited by U Feize, R I Morimoto, ! Yahara and B S Polla. pp 492. Birkhfiuser Verlag, Basel [hhtp://www.birkhauser. ch]. 1996. SFr 178 ISBN 3-7643-5205-1 Ever since living organisms evolved on earth, they have been exposed to environments which altered, sometimes gradually, sometimes rapidly. Adaptation to slow change is by mutation/ natural selection, but the need to cope with rapid change has led to the evolution of the Stress Response. This was originally reported as a response to small temperature change, the heat shock response in Drosophila (1962), but the production of stress or heat shock proteins has subsequently been shown to be a response of all cells. This response can be induced quickly and repeatedly. This book updates us on many aspects of the Stress Response in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, with reference to molecular chaperones or 'molecular undertakers' as one author thinks more appropriate (see p 73), cell signalling and the cell cycle and