In defense of self : how the immune system really works in managing health and disease

We live in a sea of seething microbial predators, an infinity of invisible and invasive microorganisms capable of setting set up shop inside us and sending us to an early grave. The only thing keeping them out? The immune system. William Clark's In Defense of Self offers a refreshingly accessible tour of the immune system, putting in layman's terms essential information that has been for too long the exclusive province of trained specialists. Clark explains how the immune system works by using powerful genetic, chemical, and cellular weapons to protect us from the vast majority of disease-causing microbes-bacteria, viruses, molds, and parasites. Only those microbes our bodies need to help us digest food and process vitamins are admitted. But this same system can endanger us by rejecting potentially life-saving organ transplants, or by overreacting and turning too much force against foreign invaders, causing serious--occasionally lethal--collateral damage to our tissues and organs. Worse yet, our immune systems may react as if we ourselves are foreign and begin snipping away at otherwise healthy tissues, resulting in autoimmune disease. In Defense of Self covers everything from how antibodies work and the strategies the body uses to distinguish self from not self to the nature of immunological memory, the latest approaches to vaccination, and how the immune system will react should we ever be subjected to a bioterrorist attack. Clark also offers important insights on the vital role that the immune system plays in cancer, AIDS, autoimmunity, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and asthma, and other diseases. Of special interest to all those suffering from diseases related to the immune system, as well as their families, In Defense of Self lucidly explains a system none of us could live without. We Live In A Sea Of Seething Microbial Predators, An Infinity Of Invisible And Invasive Microorganisms Capable Of Setting Up Shop Inside Us And Sending Us To An Early Grave. The Only Thing Keeping Them Out? The Immune System. William Clark's In Defense Of Self Offers A Refreshingly Accessible Tour Of The Immune System, Putting In Layman's Terms Essential Information That Has Been For Too Long The Exclusive Province Of Trained Specialists. Clark Explains How The Immune System Works By Using Powerful Genetic, Chemical, And Cellular Weapons To Protect Us From The Vast Majority Of Disease-causing Microbes-bacteria, Viruses, Molds, And Parasites. Only Those Microbes Our Bodies Need To Help Us Digest Food And Process Vitamins Are Admitted. But This Same System Can Endanger Us By Rejecting Potentially Life-saving Organ Transplants, Or By Overreacting And Turning Too Much Force Against Foreign Invaders, Causing Serious-occasionally Lethal-collateral Damage To Our Tissues And Resulting In Autoimmune Disease. In Defense Of Self Covers Everything From How Antibodies Work And The Strategies The Body Uses To Distinguish Self From Not Self To The Nature Of Immunological Memory, The Latest Approaches To Vaccination, And How The Immune System Will React Should We Ever Be Subjected To A Bioterrorist Attack. Clark Also Offers Important Insights On The Vital Role That The Immune System Plays In Cancer, Aids, Autoimmunity, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Allergies And Asthma, And Other Diseases. Of Special Interest To All Those Suffering From Diseases Related To The Immune System, As Well As Their Families, In Defense Of Self Lucidly Explains A System None Of Us Could Live Without.--from The Publisher. What Is An Immune System? -- Antibodies -- How Do Antibodies Work? -- T Cells: The Second Arm Of Adaptive Immunity -- The Immune Response To Infectious Disease: All Out War! -- When The Immune System Is The Problem, And Not The Solution: Microbial Immunopatholgoy -- Vaccines: How They Work, Why Sometimes They Don't, And What We Can Do About It --when The Walls Come Tumbling Down: Hiv/aids -- When The Walls Come Tumbling Down: Primary Immune Deficiencies -- When The Immune System Is The Problem, And Not The Solution: Hypersensitivity And Allergy -- The Immune System And Cancer -- Autoimmunity -- Organ Transplantation -- First Defense: The Immune System And Bioterrorism. William R. Clark. Includes Index. Annotation We live in a sea of seething microbial predators, an infinity of invisible and invasive microorganisms capable of setting set up shop inside us and sending us to an early grave. The only thing keeping them out? The immune system. William Clark's In Defense of Self offers a refreshingly accessible tour of the immune system, putting in layman's terms essential information that has been for too long the exclusive province of trained specialists. Clark explains how the immune system works by using powerful genetic, chemical, and cellular weapons to protect us from the vast majority of disease-causing microbes-bacteria, viruses, molds, and parasites. Only those microbes our bodies need to help us digest food and process vitamins are admitted. But this same system can endanger us by rejecting potentially life-saving organ transplants, or by overreacting and turning too much force against foreign invaders, causing serious-occasionally lethal-collateral damage to our tissues and organs. Worse yet, our immune systems may react as if we ourselves are foreign and begin snipping away at otherwise healthy tissues, resulting in autoimmune disease. In Defense of Self covers everything from how antibodies work and the strategies the body uses to distinguish self from not self to the nature of immunological memory, the latest approaches to vaccination, and how the immune system will react should we ever be subjected to a bioterrorist attack. Clark also offers important insights on the vital role that the immune system plays in cancer, AIDS, autoimmunity, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and asthma, and other diseases. Of special interest to all those suffering from diseases related to the immune system, as well as their families, In Defense of Self lucidly explains a system none of us could live without Contents......Page 10 Part 1: How the Immune System Works......Page 12 1 What Is an Immune System?......Page 14 2 Antibodies......Page 26 3 How Do Antibodies Work?......Page 44 4 T Cells: The Second Arm of Adaptive Immunity......Page 54 Part 2: The Immune System in Health and Disease......Page 70 5 The Immune Response to Infectious Disease: All-Out War!......Page 72 6 When the Immune System Is the Problem, Not the Solution: Microbial Immunopathology......Page 90 7 Vaccines: How They Work, Why They Sometimes Don’t, and What We Can Do About It......Page 102 8 When the Wall Comes Tumbling Down: HIV/AIDS......Page 116 9 When the Wall Comes Tumbling Down: Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases......Page 138 10 When the Immune System Is the Problem, Not the Solution: Hypersensitivity and Allergy......Page 156 11 The Immune System and Cancer......Page 174 12 Autoimmunity......Page 188 13 Organ Transplantation......Page 210 14 First Defense: The Immune System and Bioterrorism......Page 232 A......Page 262 C......Page 263 G......Page 264 I......Page 265 N......Page 266 S......Page 267 V......Page 268 X......Page 269 A......Page 270 D......Page 271 I......Page 272 M......Page 273 P......Page 274 T......Page 275 Z......Page 276 William R. Clark invites you on a whirlwind tour of your immune system. Along the way, he introduces some of most important medical advances and challenges of the past hundred years, from the development of vaccines and the treatment of allergies, autoimmunity, and cancer, to prolonging organ transplants and combating AIDS. He explains how vital part of our bodies works to "serve and protect" and how the exciting research themes of today will produce the medical breakthroughs of tomorrow William Clark invites readers on a tour of the immune system, introducing some of the most important medical advances and challenges of the past 100 years, from the development of vaccines and the treatment of allergies, automimmunity and cancer, to prolonging organ transplants and combating AIDS