Innate Immunity

Description

Humans share a common template for innate immunity-the first-line defense that serves to limit infection immediately after exposure to microorganisms-with life forms as diverse as flowering plants and insects. In Innate Immunity, leading basic researchers explore host-pathogen interactions across an evolutionary spectrum to elucidate the origins of the human defense system against infection. Bringing together the latest research in the field, the authors review four significant research areas: plant immunity, invertebrate host defense immunity, pattern recognition receptors in mammalian host defense, and the links between innate and adaptive immunity in mammals. They find that the similarities among insect, plant, and mammalian immunological systems shed light on the complex mechanisms involved in adaptive immunity, thereby increasing our understanding of mammalian host defense. Their description of various systems, pathways, molecules, and proteins engaged in the process of host defense suggests that innate and adaptive immunity can no longer be seen as two different systems, but rather as working in tandem to surround and destroy foreign agents that enter the body. The authors also discuss those templates of innate immunity found in primitive systems that are now driving most novel research on human innate immunity. Innovative and cutting-edge, Innate Immunity demonstrates new ways to explore this system in plants, invertebrates, and mammals, and, by illuminating the dynamic interplay between infectious agents and host defense, clearly reveals the potential for improved therapies to treat infectious diseases. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-2 Pathogen Recognition and Signal Transduction in Plant Immunity....Pages 3-26 Plant Disease Resistance Genes....Pages 27-45 Nonhost Resistance in Plants to Microbial Pathogens....Pages 47-57 Front Matter....Pages 59-60 Regulatory Co-options in the Evolution of Deuterostome Immune Systems....Pages 61-87 Antimicrobial Peptides in Insect Immunity....Pages 89-107 Innate Immunity in the Horseshoe Crab....Pages 109-125 Pattern Recognition Receptors in Drosophila ....Pages 127-135 Humoral and Cellular Responses in Drosophila Innate Immunity....Pages 137-153 Thioester-Containing Proteins of Protostomes....Pages 155-173 Front Matter....Pages 175-176 Toll-Like Receptors....Pages 177-189 The Macrophage Mannose Receptor and Innate Immunity....Pages 191-204 Diverse Roles of Lung Collectins in Pulmonary Innate Immunity....Pages 205-229 Structures of Complement Control Proteins....Pages 231-253 Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein and CD14....Pages 255-265 Front Matter....Pages 267-268 The Role of Chemokines in Linking Innate and Adaptive Immunity....Pages 269-286 Antimicrobial Peptides....Pages 287-303 The Role of Complement in Innate and Adaptive Immunity....Pages 305-319 The Role of Natural Killer Cells in Innate Immunity to Infection....Pages 321-339 Innate Immune Signaling During Phagocytosis....Pages 341-359 The Role of Mast Cells in Innate Immunity....Pages 361-385 Front Matter....Pages 267-268 CD1-Restricted T-Cells....Pages 387-402 Back Matter....Pages 403-410