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Methods in immunology and immunochemistry: Vol. 2. Physical and chemical methods
Book Reviews
509
Immunological Concepts-by Loyd Y. Q.uinn. Iowa State University Press, 1968. 130 pp., $5.95. Immunological concepts by Loyd Y. Q,uinn, from Iowa State University, is meant to be a key to interscience communication in Immunology. In addition to the more basic immunological subjects such as immunoglobulins, delayed type hypersensitivity, immunological tolerance, and complement, the book also discusses aspects of anti-viral immunity, immunogenetics, and immunopathology. It is clear that the author cannot be expected to cover all the details of Immunology and its basic concepts in the approximate 130 pages of text that this book contains. Indeed, the book is rather lacking in comprehensive reviews of recent information obtained from research on cellular, biochemical, and genetic aspects of the immune response. Rather than integrating knowledge accumulated from these different disciplins, the author offers brief summaries of the immunological topics ignoring most of the important recent findings and ideas. Literature cited from the last few years is predominantly of a technical nature, while on the contrary, the sections dealing with historical aspects of many of the subjects discussed are among the more interesting. The book contains a large collection of photographs of bacteria and viruses, a few tables on subjects marginally related to the field of immunology, and a glossary with definitions of various laboratory jargon expressions and some of the more scientific terms used by immunologists. G. J E A N E T T E THORBECKE
Methods in Immunology and Immunochemistry:.Vol. 2. Physical and Chemical Methods. Edited by Curtis A. Williams and Merrill W. Chase. Academic Press, New York and London, 1968. 414 pp., author and subject index, £10.5.4. This volume contains Chapters 6-12 of the 'Methods'. It deals with electrophoresis (Chap. 6), ultracentrifugation (Chap. 7), dialysis and ultrafiltration (Chap. 8), chromatography (Chap. 9), spectrophotometry and turbidimetry (Chap. 10), use of radioisotopes, autoradiography (Chap. 11), and with a number of chemical methods frequently used in immunological work (Chap. 12). The editors succeeded in finding a number of outstanding experts as contributors. Thus, disc electrophoresis is described by Davis and Ornstein, starch gel electrophoresis by Poulik, column electrophoresis by Porath, electrophoresis convection by Cann, and dialysis by Craig. Most of the methods are described in a way understandable not only to chemists but also to biologists and immunologists who had no special training in physical chemistry. The book contains many examples for the application of the described methods in immunology although a few examples (e.g. in Chap. 6, D3) are taken from fields which have no direct relation to immunology. Immunologists and immunochemists will find particularly valuable material in the discussion of ion exchange chromatography by T. P. King, in the survey on optical analysis in the visible and the u.v. range by
510
Book Reviews
j. R. Little and H. Donahue, and in J. S. Garvey's contribution on the application of radioisotopes. Chapter 12, written authoritatively by the editors, deals with the application of chemical methods in immunology, particularly the quantitative determination of proteins and of protein-bound carbohydrates. Appendix I lists a large number of antigens, haptens and immunoglobulins and their fragments, their absorption maxima and their extinction coefficients. The value of these data is doubtful since precise results can be obtained only by comparison with a reliable standard preparation. Appendix II contains valuable instructions for the convenient preparation of buffer solutions in different pH ranges. Summarizing it may be said that Volume 2 of the 'Methods' is recommended as an indispensable and excellent survey of the physical and chemical methods used in immunology and immunochemistry. FELIX HAUROWITZ
Analiza Imunochimica. (The Immunochemical Analysis), in Rumanian, 1st E d n . - b y Victor Ghetie and Valeriu Micusan. Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste Romania. (The Press of the Academy of the Socialist Republic of Rumania), Bucharest, 1966.368 pp., illustrated, Lei 28 (approx. $2.). The purpose of this book is to fill the gap created by the absence of a comprehensive literature in Rumanian, in the rapidly growing field of Immunochemistry. The previous book on immunochemistry, by E. Gold (Practical Immunology), was published in 1957 and the content has been since long outdated. The authors aim to introduce the reader in the basic theoretical aspects of immunochemistry including the chemical nature of the antigens and antibodies, the conditions for antigenicity, antigenic determinants, the dynamics of antibody biosynthesis as well as the specificity of antigen-antibody reactions. The main aspect of the book, however, is practical, and the authors describe in detail the immunochemical procedures in wide use today in any modern research laboratory. The conception of the book reflects the logical progress of a complete immunochemical analysis. The authors begin by describing procedures for preparation and purification of various antigens, and give a few methods for quantitative determinations. A chapter of antibodies describes various methods of immunization, and procedures for the isolation and purification of antibodies. The last part of the book describes in detail various types of antigen-antibody reactions. While some of the techniques are described twice e.g. salting out and electrophoresis, other procedures such as ultracentrifugation and the use of radioactive isotopes are not mentioned. In general, however, the book is well written and certainly provides up to date information for a wide group of readers including physicians, molecular biologists and those interested in the technology of biological products. G. STRE~AN
509
Immunological Concepts-by Loyd Y. Q.uinn. Iowa State University Press, 1968. 130 pp., $5.95. Immunological concepts by Loyd Y. Q,uinn, from Iowa State University, is meant to be a key to interscience communication in Immunology. In addition to the more basic immunological subjects such as immunoglobulins, delayed type hypersensitivity, immunological tolerance, and complement, the book also discusses aspects of anti-viral immunity, immunogenetics, and immunopathology. It is clear that the author cannot be expected to cover all the details of Immunology and its basic concepts in the approximate 130 pages of text that this book contains. Indeed, the book is rather lacking in comprehensive reviews of recent information obtained from research on cellular, biochemical, and genetic aspects of the immune response. Rather than integrating knowledge accumulated from these different disciplins, the author offers brief summaries of the immunological topics ignoring most of the important recent findings and ideas. Literature cited from the last few years is predominantly of a technical nature, while on the contrary, the sections dealing with historical aspects of many of the subjects discussed are among the more interesting. The book contains a large collection of photographs of bacteria and viruses, a few tables on subjects marginally related to the field of immunology, and a glossary with definitions of various laboratory jargon expressions and some of the more scientific terms used by immunologists. G. J E A N E T T E THORBECKE
Methods in Immunology and Immunochemistry:.Vol. 2. Physical and Chemical Methods. Edited by Curtis A. Williams and Merrill W. Chase. Academic Press, New York and London, 1968. 414 pp., author and subject index, £10.5.4. This volume contains Chapters 6-12 of the 'Methods'. It deals with electrophoresis (Chap. 6), ultracentrifugation (Chap. 7), dialysis and ultrafiltration (Chap. 8), chromatography (Chap. 9), spectrophotometry and turbidimetry (Chap. 10), use of radioisotopes, autoradiography (Chap. 11), and with a number of chemical methods frequently used in immunological work (Chap. 12). The editors succeeded in finding a number of outstanding experts as contributors. Thus, disc electrophoresis is described by Davis and Ornstein, starch gel electrophoresis by Poulik, column electrophoresis by Porath, electrophoresis convection by Cann, and dialysis by Craig. Most of the methods are described in a way understandable not only to chemists but also to biologists and immunologists who had no special training in physical chemistry. The book contains many examples for the application of the described methods in immunology although a few examples (e.g. in Chap. 6, D3) are taken from fields which have no direct relation to immunology. Immunologists and immunochemists will find particularly valuable material in the discussion of ion exchange chromatography by T. P. King, in the survey on optical analysis in the visible and the u.v. range by
510
Book Reviews
j. R. Little and H. Donahue, and in J. S. Garvey's contribution on the application of radioisotopes. Chapter 12, written authoritatively by the editors, deals with the application of chemical methods in immunology, particularly the quantitative determination of proteins and of protein-bound carbohydrates. Appendix I lists a large number of antigens, haptens and immunoglobulins and their fragments, their absorption maxima and their extinction coefficients. The value of these data is doubtful since precise results can be obtained only by comparison with a reliable standard preparation. Appendix II contains valuable instructions for the convenient preparation of buffer solutions in different pH ranges. Summarizing it may be said that Volume 2 of the 'Methods' is recommended as an indispensable and excellent survey of the physical and chemical methods used in immunology and immunochemistry. FELIX HAUROWITZ
Analiza Imunochimica. (The Immunochemical Analysis), in Rumanian, 1st E d n . - b y Victor Ghetie and Valeriu Micusan. Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste Romania. (The Press of the Academy of the Socialist Republic of Rumania), Bucharest, 1966.368 pp., illustrated, Lei 28 (approx. $2.). The purpose of this book is to fill the gap created by the absence of a comprehensive literature in Rumanian, in the rapidly growing field of Immunochemistry. The previous book on immunochemistry, by E. Gold (Practical Immunology), was published in 1957 and the content has been since long outdated. The authors aim to introduce the reader in the basic theoretical aspects of immunochemistry including the chemical nature of the antigens and antibodies, the conditions for antigenicity, antigenic determinants, the dynamics of antibody biosynthesis as well as the specificity of antigen-antibody reactions. The main aspect of the book, however, is practical, and the authors describe in detail the immunochemical procedures in wide use today in any modern research laboratory. The conception of the book reflects the logical progress of a complete immunochemical analysis. The authors begin by describing procedures for preparation and purification of various antigens, and give a few methods for quantitative determinations. A chapter of antibodies describes various methods of immunization, and procedures for the isolation and purification of antibodies. The last part of the book describes in detail various types of antigen-antibody reactions. While some of the techniques are described twice e.g. salting out and electrophoresis, other procedures such as ultracentrifugation and the use of radioactive isotopes are not mentioned. In general, however, the book is well written and certainly provides up to date information for a wide group of readers including physicians, molecular biologists and those interested in the technology of biological products. G. STRE~AN