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Immunochemistry of viruses: The basis for serodiagnosis and vaccines
Journal oflmrnunologicalMethods, 86 (1986) 278-280 Elsevier
278
JIM03779 Book reviews
Van Regenmortel, M.H.V. and A.R. Neurath (eds.) Immunochemistry of Viruses: The Basis for Serodiagnosis and Vaccines, xviii + 502 pp. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1985. Dfl. 350.-/$129.75, ISBN 0-444-80647-4 This book presents recent findings on the antigenic properties of viruses and the resulting novel approaches to the diagnosis and immunoprophylaxis of viral diseases. The material is contained in 26 chapters written by 43 authors from U.S.A., U.K., Canada, Australia, France, Sweden, and Israel. Following the introductory chapter 1 the humoral and cellular antiviral immune responses are discussed in chapters 2 and 4 respectively. The enhancement of immunity by the administration of muramyl dipeptide in experimental animals and the release of y-interferon by virus-infected T cells receive particular attention. The uses of monoclonal antibodies in the analysis of viral epitopes and in studying the structure and regulation of viral cell-surface receptors are reviewed in chapter 3. Virus neutralization tests and the proposed mechanisms of this process are evaluated in chapter 5. Chapters 6-9 survey the methods for detecting viral antigens in biological specimens. These include precipitation, agglutination, complement fixation, enzyme immunoassays, immunofluores-
cence, and immunoelectron microscopy. Chapters 10-13 deal with the preparation and application of live and killed vaccines, immunogenic conjugates of synthetic peptides representing fragments of viral antigens, and translation products of cloned viral genes in preventive human and veterinary medicine. In the remaining chapters the antigenic structures of different virus families from influenza through adeno- and herpesviruses to plant and insect viruses are described in detail and data given on various kinds of observed antigenic variation. Where appropriate the relevance of this information to serodiagnosis, passive protection and vaccine development is assessed. The subject matter is systematically arranged, with basic concepts preceding the description of techniques and the results of investigations. The text is illustrated with tables, schematic diagrams, photographs, electron micrographs of viral particles, and figures showing amino acid sequences of viral proteins. It is provided with numerous references, editors' preface, a list of contributors, and a subject index. Researchers and advanced students in the fields of virology, immunology, biochemistry and preventive medicine can find herein valuable up-to-date information and guidelines for work connected with viral antigens. F. BOREK
JIM03781 Perkins, F.T. and W. Hennessen (eds.), Developments in Biological Standardization, Vol. 59, Standardization and Control of Biologicals Produced by Recombinant DNA Technology, 209 pp. Karger, Basel, 1985. SFr. 7 0 / D M 8 4 / $ 3 0 , ISBN 3-8055-4027-2 Most people are aware of the great potential for commercial exploitation of biologicals produced by recombinant DNA technology. There is also
general awareness of the many practical problems and the need for safeguards and quality control, so standardization of these novel products is an obvious choice of subject for an international conference. This book contains the proceedings of just such a conference held in Geneva in November 1983. The sections of the book are General Aspects (mainly development of vector systems); Bacteria, Parasites and Interferon; Viruses (foot and mouth vaccine and Simian herpesvirus detection); Hepa-
0022-1759/86/$03.50 © 1986 ElsevierSciencePublishers B.V. (Biomedical Division)
278
JIM03779 Book reviews
Van Regenmortel, M.H.V. and A.R. Neurath (eds.) Immunochemistry of Viruses: The Basis for Serodiagnosis and Vaccines, xviii + 502 pp. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1985. Dfl. 350.-/$129.75, ISBN 0-444-80647-4 This book presents recent findings on the antigenic properties of viruses and the resulting novel approaches to the diagnosis and immunoprophylaxis of viral diseases. The material is contained in 26 chapters written by 43 authors from U.S.A., U.K., Canada, Australia, France, Sweden, and Israel. Following the introductory chapter 1 the humoral and cellular antiviral immune responses are discussed in chapters 2 and 4 respectively. The enhancement of immunity by the administration of muramyl dipeptide in experimental animals and the release of y-interferon by virus-infected T cells receive particular attention. The uses of monoclonal antibodies in the analysis of viral epitopes and in studying the structure and regulation of viral cell-surface receptors are reviewed in chapter 3. Virus neutralization tests and the proposed mechanisms of this process are evaluated in chapter 5. Chapters 6-9 survey the methods for detecting viral antigens in biological specimens. These include precipitation, agglutination, complement fixation, enzyme immunoassays, immunofluores-
cence, and immunoelectron microscopy. Chapters 10-13 deal with the preparation and application of live and killed vaccines, immunogenic conjugates of synthetic peptides representing fragments of viral antigens, and translation products of cloned viral genes in preventive human and veterinary medicine. In the remaining chapters the antigenic structures of different virus families from influenza through adeno- and herpesviruses to plant and insect viruses are described in detail and data given on various kinds of observed antigenic variation. Where appropriate the relevance of this information to serodiagnosis, passive protection and vaccine development is assessed. The subject matter is systematically arranged, with basic concepts preceding the description of techniques and the results of investigations. The text is illustrated with tables, schematic diagrams, photographs, electron micrographs of viral particles, and figures showing amino acid sequences of viral proteins. It is provided with numerous references, editors' preface, a list of contributors, and a subject index. Researchers and advanced students in the fields of virology, immunology, biochemistry and preventive medicine can find herein valuable up-to-date information and guidelines for work connected with viral antigens. F. BOREK
JIM03781 Perkins, F.T. and W. Hennessen (eds.), Developments in Biological Standardization, Vol. 59, Standardization and Control of Biologicals Produced by Recombinant DNA Technology, 209 pp. Karger, Basel, 1985. SFr. 7 0 / D M 8 4 / $ 3 0 , ISBN 3-8055-4027-2 Most people are aware of the great potential for commercial exploitation of biologicals produced by recombinant DNA technology. There is also
general awareness of the many practical problems and the need for safeguards and quality control, so standardization of these novel products is an obvious choice of subject for an international conference. This book contains the proceedings of just such a conference held in Geneva in November 1983. The sections of the book are General Aspects (mainly development of vector systems); Bacteria, Parasites and Interferon; Viruses (foot and mouth vaccine and Simian herpesvirus detection); Hepa-
0022-1759/86/$03.50 © 1986 ElsevierSciencePublishers B.V. (Biomedical Division)