Origin and Evolution of the Vertebrate Immune System

L. Du Pasquier (u. a.)

ISBN 10: 3642640788 / ISBN 13: 9783642640780

Published by Springer, 2011

About this Item

Origin and Evolution of the Vertebrate Immune System | L. Du Pasquier (u. a.) | Taschenbuch | Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology | ix | Englisch | 2011 | Springer | EAN 9783642640780 | Verantwortliche Person für die EU: Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg, juergen[dot]hartmann[at]springer[dot]com | Anbieter: preigu.

Seller Inventory # 106367215

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Origin and Evolution of the Vertebrate Immune System
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3642640788
• ISBN 13: 9783642640780
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 235W x 155H x 19D millimeters 235 millimeters width by 155 millimeters height by 19 millimeters depth
• Weight: 517 grams
• Seller catalogs:
  • Bücher

About this title

Synopsis

The comparative approach to immunology can be traced to the era of Pasteur and Metchnikov in which observations regarding foreign recognition in invertebrates was a factor in the develop­ ment of the principal concepts that created the foundation of what now is the broad field of immunology. With each major experimental and conceptual breakthrough, the classical, albeit essential, question has been asked "are the immune systems of phylogenetically primitive vertebrates and invertebrates similar to that of mammals?" Somewhat surprisingly for the jawed verte­ brates, the general answer has been a qualified form of "yes", whereas for agnathans and invertebrate phyla it has been "no" so far. The apparent abruptness in the appearance of the immune system of vertebrates is linked to the introduction of the somatic generation of the diversity of its antigen specific receptors. Therefore the questions regarding the origin and evolution of the specific immune system revolve around this phenomenon. With respect to the origin of the system (aside from the or­ igin of the rearranging machinery itself, the study of which is still in its infancy) one can ask questions about the cellular and mo­ lecular contexts in which the mechanism was introduced.