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Handbook of experimental immunology
Journalof Neuroimmunology, 15 (1987) 217-218
217
Elsevier JNI 00500 Book Review
Handbook of Experimental Immunology, 4 volumes, by D.M. Weir, L.A. Herzenberg, Caroline Blackwell and Leonore A. Herzenberg (Eds.), Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Boston, Palo Alto and Melbourne, 1986, £180.00. Nearly 20 years after publication of the first edition, the Handbook of Experimental Immunology, by D.M. Weir has become an institution but, at a cost of £180.00 for the four volumes, is it a necessity for the neuroimmunologist? The answer is undoubtedly in the affirmative. The fourth edition has been considerably expanded and completely updated compared to the third which was published in 1976. There are now four editors and more than 200 contributors, representing a ' Who's Who' in immunology from around the world. A sensible decision has been to break down the Handbook into separate volumes on Immunochemistry, Cellular Immunology, Applications of Immunological Methods in Biomedical Sciences and an entirely new volume covering Genetics and Molecular Immunology. All the previous sections are more than doubled, e.g. Immunochemistry from 21 chapters to 40 and Cellular Immunology from 16 to 43. The book is, however, very well organised and presented and the extra information is given in a manageable form. For instance, within each volume there are four or five sections, encompassing the major divisions such as, in the volume on Cellular Immunology: phagocytes, the lymphoid system, lymphocyte responses and immunoregulation while a new and very helpful feature is the insertion of an 'Overview' at the start of each section. Perhaps the difficulties faced by editors of a book covering the very latest information can be seen from the fact that no less that five 'Overviews' introduce the section on Immunoregulation! The general balance is good, however, and the exercise of editorial control has resulted in most chapters being kept to about six pages of text, including, of course, the customary excellent practical advice and up-to-date references. The benefit of a book like this will indeed be felt particularly by neuroimmunologists because their interests cover so wide a range. Recent issues of the Journal and the papers presented at last year's Congress of Neuroimmunology in Bergen, make it plain that contributors to the field need information on all facets of antigen preparation, and antigen-antibody interactions, the use of flow cytometry, T cell activation and Class II histocompatibility antigen expression, immune response genes associated with neurological diseases, complement receptors, the investigation of animal models and the analysis of immunological responses to infectious agents, including viruses and the newly discovered spirochaete of Lyme disease. In other words, the neuroimmunologist has to be familiar with all aspects of immunology - and he will find them all covered here. Several subjects which were considered collectively in the third edition are now discussed in greater depth in individual chapters, e.g. isolation and purification of 0165-5728/87/$03.50 ~, 1987 ElsevierScience Publishers B.V. (BiomedicalDivision)
218 antigens from viruses~ bacteria, fungi and the carbohydrate antigens of higher animals, and the characterization of the different immunoglobulins. There are no less than 12 new chapters on monoclonal antibodies and six which deal specifically with mammalian cell membrane antigens. There has been a notable expansion in the methods given to study the affinity and kinetics of antigen-antibody interactions and a wide range of recently developed immunological techniques are appraised. The chapters on complement have been enlarged to clarify the new complement receptor nomenclature and the allotyping of complement components. A helpful guide to complement fixation produced by monoclonal antigen-antibody complexes is given. The section on statistical planning and design, and statistical analysis of results is essential reading. The neuroimmunologist will be immediately attracted to the chapter on Neurobiology by Janet Winter, Karen L. Valentino and L.F. Reichardt, where the usage of monoclonal antibodies in the investigation of the sodium channel, sodium and calcium pumps and, of course~ the acetylcholine receptor, is considered. The identification of cytoskeletal elements and of the different cell types of the CNS is described, together with methods of localizing neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Monoclonal antibody techniques in studying the development of the CNS~ neural crest cells, neuronal cell adhesion molecules, neuronal migration, axon growth and path-finding and markers of cell positioning, are all mentioned. The preparation of neural antigens, with useful immunization protocols, is outlined and methods for overcoming problems in the detection of specific antigens, together with immunochemical procedures for light and electron microscopy of this region, are covered. The printing and layout of the four volumes, together with the diagrams and photographs, are of high quality. Altogether, the fourth edition of 'Weir' is as necessary as the previous editions were in their time. WILHELMINAM.H. BEHAN Department of Pathology Glasgow University Glasgow G l l 6NT, U.K.
217
Elsevier JNI 00500 Book Review
Handbook of Experimental Immunology, 4 volumes, by D.M. Weir, L.A. Herzenberg, Caroline Blackwell and Leonore A. Herzenberg (Eds.), Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Boston, Palo Alto and Melbourne, 1986, £180.00. Nearly 20 years after publication of the first edition, the Handbook of Experimental Immunology, by D.M. Weir has become an institution but, at a cost of £180.00 for the four volumes, is it a necessity for the neuroimmunologist? The answer is undoubtedly in the affirmative. The fourth edition has been considerably expanded and completely updated compared to the third which was published in 1976. There are now four editors and more than 200 contributors, representing a ' Who's Who' in immunology from around the world. A sensible decision has been to break down the Handbook into separate volumes on Immunochemistry, Cellular Immunology, Applications of Immunological Methods in Biomedical Sciences and an entirely new volume covering Genetics and Molecular Immunology. All the previous sections are more than doubled, e.g. Immunochemistry from 21 chapters to 40 and Cellular Immunology from 16 to 43. The book is, however, very well organised and presented and the extra information is given in a manageable form. For instance, within each volume there are four or five sections, encompassing the major divisions such as, in the volume on Cellular Immunology: phagocytes, the lymphoid system, lymphocyte responses and immunoregulation while a new and very helpful feature is the insertion of an 'Overview' at the start of each section. Perhaps the difficulties faced by editors of a book covering the very latest information can be seen from the fact that no less that five 'Overviews' introduce the section on Immunoregulation! The general balance is good, however, and the exercise of editorial control has resulted in most chapters being kept to about six pages of text, including, of course, the customary excellent practical advice and up-to-date references. The benefit of a book like this will indeed be felt particularly by neuroimmunologists because their interests cover so wide a range. Recent issues of the Journal and the papers presented at last year's Congress of Neuroimmunology in Bergen, make it plain that contributors to the field need information on all facets of antigen preparation, and antigen-antibody interactions, the use of flow cytometry, T cell activation and Class II histocompatibility antigen expression, immune response genes associated with neurological diseases, complement receptors, the investigation of animal models and the analysis of immunological responses to infectious agents, including viruses and the newly discovered spirochaete of Lyme disease. In other words, the neuroimmunologist has to be familiar with all aspects of immunology - and he will find them all covered here. Several subjects which were considered collectively in the third edition are now discussed in greater depth in individual chapters, e.g. isolation and purification of 0165-5728/87/$03.50 ~, 1987 ElsevierScience Publishers B.V. (BiomedicalDivision)
218 antigens from viruses~ bacteria, fungi and the carbohydrate antigens of higher animals, and the characterization of the different immunoglobulins. There are no less than 12 new chapters on monoclonal antibodies and six which deal specifically with mammalian cell membrane antigens. There has been a notable expansion in the methods given to study the affinity and kinetics of antigen-antibody interactions and a wide range of recently developed immunological techniques are appraised. The chapters on complement have been enlarged to clarify the new complement receptor nomenclature and the allotyping of complement components. A helpful guide to complement fixation produced by monoclonal antigen-antibody complexes is given. The section on statistical planning and design, and statistical analysis of results is essential reading. The neuroimmunologist will be immediately attracted to the chapter on Neurobiology by Janet Winter, Karen L. Valentino and L.F. Reichardt, where the usage of monoclonal antibodies in the investigation of the sodium channel, sodium and calcium pumps and, of course~ the acetylcholine receptor, is considered. The identification of cytoskeletal elements and of the different cell types of the CNS is described, together with methods of localizing neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Monoclonal antibody techniques in studying the development of the CNS~ neural crest cells, neuronal cell adhesion molecules, neuronal migration, axon growth and path-finding and markers of cell positioning, are all mentioned. The preparation of neural antigens, with useful immunization protocols, is outlined and methods for overcoming problems in the detection of specific antigens, together with immunochemical procedures for light and electron microscopy of this region, are covered. The printing and layout of the four volumes, together with the diagrams and photographs, are of high quality. Altogether, the fourth edition of 'Weir' is as necessary as the previous editions were in their time. WILHELMINAM.H. BEHAN Department of Pathology Glasgow University Glasgow G l l 6NT, U.K.