Intrinsic Immunity

Recent research has focused attention on the importance of intrinsic antiviral immunity, i.e. immunity mediated by factors that are constitutively expressed in many cells. In this volume, leading experts provide a comprehensive overview of this relatively new and rapidly evolving field. They cover intrinsic proteinaceous antiviral immune effectors, such as the APOBEC3 and TRIM protein families as well as Tetherin and SAMHD1, which were initially discovered by researchers studying HIV-1. Furthermore, the role of RNA interference in antiviral defense in plants and invertebrates, as well as the interplay between microRNAs and viruses in mammalian cells, are analysed. One chapter discusses how intrinsic immunity and viral countermeasures to intrinsic immune effectors drive both pathogen and host evolution, and finally the emerging evidence that DNA damage response proteins restrict infection by DNA viruses is highlighted.

This volume of the series Rare Diseases of the Immune System presents detailed state of the art knowledge on the cellular primary immunodeficiencies; it includes extensive coverage of both basic science discoveries and the latest clinical advances in the field. The book is structured in accordance with the most recent classification of PIDs and also covers updates on the T cell immunological synapse. Readers will find comprehensive, in-depth descriptions of novel cellular PID genes and related clinical applications, mucosal T cells, and the various clinical phenotypes of cellular PIDs. Cellular Primary Immunodeficiencies will be of high value for immunologists, pediatricians, rheumatologists, oncologists, internists, and infectious disease specialists and will also be informative for MD, Master and PhD students.

This comprehensive account of the human herpesviruses provides an encyclopedic overview of their basic virology and clinical manifestations. This group of viruses includes human simplex type 1 and 2, Epstein–Barr virus, Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, HHV6A, 6B and 7, and varicella-zoster virus. The viral diseases and cancers they cause are significant and often recurrent. Their prevalence in the developed world accounts for a major burden of disease, and as a result there is a great deal of research into the pathophysiology of infection and immunobiology. Another important area covered within this volume concerns antiviral therapy and the development of vaccines. All these aspects are covered in depth, both scientifically and in terms of clinical guidelines for patient care. The text is illustrated generously throughout and is fully referenced to the latest research and developments.

The brief description of tumours being “wounds that do not heal” by Dr Harold F. Dworak nearly three decades ago (N Engl J Med 1986) has provided not only a vivid illustration of neoplastic diseases in general but also, in retrospect conceptually, a plausible immunological definition of cancers. Based on our current understanding in the field, it could have even a multi-dimensional meaning attached with. This relates to several important issues which need to be addressed further, i.e. in terms of a close link between chronic inflammation and tumourigenesis widely observed; clinical and experimental evidence of immunity against tumours versus the highly immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment being associated; and their underlying immunological mechanisms, oncogenic basis, as well as the true causal relationship in question. Recent findings from studies into the pathogenesis of autoimmunity and, more importantly, the mechanisms which protect against it, have offered some new insights for our understanding in this direction. Chronic or persistent autoimmune-like inflammatory conditions are evidently associated with tumor development. The important question is about their true causal relationship. Chronic or persistent inflammation has been shown to contribute directly to tumour development by triggering neoplastic transformation and production of inflammatory mediators which could promote cancer cell survival, proliferation and invasion. On the other hand, tumours are mutated self-tissue cells to which the host immune system is largely tolerized otherwise. Although the mutations may give rise to the expression of tumour-specific antigens (TSA) or tumour-associated antigens (TAA), most of these TSAs/TAAs are found to be poor immunogens. The ongoing inflammatory conditions may therefore reflect a desperate attempt of the host immune system to mount anti-tumour responses, though ineffectively, being a consequence of the continuous yet largely futile triggering by those poorly immunogenic TSAs/TAAs. Furthermore, during autoimmune or overtly persistent immunological responses, many regulatory mechanisms are triggered in the host in attempts to limit the ongoing harmful inflammatory reactions. Such a negative feedback regulation is known to be crucial in preventing normal individuals from immune-mediated diseases. As a result of the negative feedback loop, however, an excessive production of anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive molecules followed by the exhaustion of the immune effector cells may instead lower the ability of the host immune system to mount specific anti-tumor responses, allowing the escape of tumour or mutated cells from immunosurveillance. This may also help to explain why the most effective way to enhance host immunity against cancer is by targeting the negative arm of immune regulation. In this Frontiers Research Topic, we aim to gather current views from experts in these inherent overlapping fields of oncology, autoimmunity and tumour immunology, and to make them available to our potential readership who may be particularly interested in this cutting-edge area. By understanding how the immune system is normally regulated, why dysregulation of which may cause the immunological-oncological related diseases, we also encourage further discussions as to how the so-called "self-reactivity" (autoimmune responses) can be alternatively switched on and redirected, immunologically or molecularly, for effective cancer treatment.

This book reviews the knowledge, methods and available techniques in the rapidly advancing field of virus based vaccines and gene therapeutics. It also highlights new innovative tools and interdisciplinary techniques for bioprocess development and analytics of viruses and viral vectors. As such, it provides a timely and highly relevant resource, since current advances in pharmaceutical research have seen the rise of vaccines and advanced therapeutics and medicinal products (ATMPs), that rely on the power of viruses. However, developing bioprocesses and analytics required to create this often called “magic bullet” (i.e. gene therapy) remains an extremely challenging and costly task. This book offers strategies for overcoming hurdles and difficulties within in all the necessary steps of viral vector development - from scalability to purification methods and quality control. The book is intended for researchers working in academia or industry, as well as graduate students pursuing a career in virology.

Given rapid research progress and advance of the techniques in studying HIV interactions with host cells and factors, there is a critical need for a book on HIV interactions with DCs. The proposed book will aim for a broad readership to facilitate HIV/AIDS research and provide a practical tool for HIV researchers to continuously address novel questions. Specifically, the editors will summarize the literature in this field and provide critical analysis and future directions. International researchers will be invited as contributors of the book, highlighting authors who have contributed significantly to the field from different angles and aspects of virology, cell biology and immunology, etc.

Translational Cardiology: Molecular Basis of Cardiac Metabolism, Cardiac Remodeling, Translational Therapies and Imaging Techniques provides an up-to-date introduction to the role circadian rhythms, cardiac plasticity, and mechanotransduction play in the heart, while at the same time introducing new developments in cellular, viral, and non-biologic therapies that are in the process of being developed. Importantly, the focus of this book is on topics that, due to their novelty, are largely not covered in the other major textbooks. A special emphasis is placed on the molecular basis of cardiac metabolism, new concepts in cardiac remodeling, and translational therapies and imaging techniques currently under development for clinical use. The chapters are written by experts from diverse clinical and biomedical research backgrounds. Translational Cardiology: Molecular Basis of Cardiac Metabolism, Cardiac Remodeling, Translational Therapies and Imaging Techniques simplifies the complexity of the molecular basis of disease by focusing on patient-oriented disease mechanisms and therapies and is of great value to a broad audience including physicians (e.g. cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, pathologists) as well as translational biomedical researchers in a wide range of disciplines.