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Innate Immunity to Pulmonary Infection, Novartis Foundation series No. 279
Book review Innate Immunity to Pulmonary Infection, Novartis Foundation series No. 279 Edited by Derek J. Chadwick and Jamie Goode. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, 1st ed, December 2006 (UK), January 2007 (US). 238 pages. Hardcover $160.00. In late November 2005, a symposium on innate immunity to pulmonary infection was held in South Africa, with presentations from many of the leaders in innate immunity and pulmonary research. This book is a compilation of these presentations. These well-written chapters focus on all aspects of innate immunity in the lung. Early chapters discuss various pulmonary infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, bacterial infections in healthy and immunodeficient patients, influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome, and Aspergillus in the lung), and later chapters focus on components of the innate immune response (including pattern recognition receptors and mucus, neutrophils, mast cells, and
dendritic cells). A final chapter explores the role of the innate and adaptive immune response in response to lung cancer. The most interesting component of the book is the addition of the question-and-answer session from each talk after the corresponding chapter. These discussions among leaders in the field are extremely interesting and insightful. However, it is also clear that some of the chapters do not directly parallel the presented talk. Although not common, when these disconnects occur they can be a bit confusing. Because of the focus on novel findings in innate immunity and the lung, this is not a reference text that could be used in the clinical arena. However, anyone who is interested in the role of the innate immune system in the lung will find this an informative, interesting text that is well worth the read. MITCHELL H. GRAYSON, MD Division of Allergy and Immunology Department of Internal Medicine Washington University School of Medicine St Louis, Missouri
Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose.
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dendritic cells). A final chapter explores the role of the innate and adaptive immune response in response to lung cancer. The most interesting component of the book is the addition of the question-and-answer session from each talk after the corresponding chapter. These discussions among leaders in the field are extremely interesting and insightful. However, it is also clear that some of the chapters do not directly parallel the presented talk. Although not common, when these disconnects occur they can be a bit confusing. Because of the focus on novel findings in innate immunity and the lung, this is not a reference text that could be used in the clinical arena. However, anyone who is interested in the role of the innate immune system in the lung will find this an informative, interesting text that is well worth the read. MITCHELL H. GRAYSON, MD Division of Allergy and Immunology Department of Internal Medicine Washington University School of Medicine St Louis, Missouri
Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose.
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ANNALS OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY