An early view of eukaryotic chromosomes was that of static structures, which stored DNA not in use within a given cell type. It was thought that packaging of DNA into higher levels of chromatin structure would suffice to repress gene expression and that the challenge to the cell would be to rescue specific sequences from these structures. The exten- sive packaging of inactive DNA was considered the primary difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes and except for that point both would be similarly regulated by cis-acting sequences and trans- acting factors. Our view of eukaryotic...
An early view of eukaryotic chromosomes was that of static structures, which stored DNA not in use within a given cell type. It was thought that packa...
Proper development and differentiation of B lymphocytes is es- sential to ensure that an organism has the ability to mount an effective humoral immune response against foreign antigens. The immune system must maintain a balance between the deletion of harmful self-reactive B cells and the generation of a diverse rep- ertoire of B cells that has the ability to recognize an almost un- limited array of foreign antigens. The need to delete self-reactive cells is tempered by the need to avoid the generation of large functional holes in the repertoire of foreign antigen-specific B cells that patrol...
Proper development and differentiation of B lymphocytes is es- sential to ensure that an organism has the ability to mount an effective humoral immune...
This volume offers an overview of the processes of zoonotic viral emergence, the intricacies of host/virus interactions, and the role of biological transitions and modifying factors. The themes introduced here are amplified and explored in detail by the contributing authors, who explore the mechanisms and unique circumstances by which evolution, biology, history, and current context have contrived to drive the emergence of different zoonotic agents by a series of related events.
This volume offers an overview of the processes of zoonotic viral emergence, the intricacies of host/virus interactions, and the role of biological...
The importance of specific antibodies for the clearance of and long-term resistance to many infectious pathogens has long been appreciated. Moreover, the role in these processes of the different antibody heavy chain isotypes, each tailored to induce diverse effector pathways such as those mediated by complement and Fc receptors and to promote antibody localization in distinct regions of the body, is well established. Insights into the molecular mechanism of isotype class switching showed that during an immune response B cells could change the heavy chain of the antibody they produced, without...
The importance of specific antibodies for the clearance of and long-term resistance to many infectious pathogens has long been appreciated. Moreover, ...
In the last few years the major effect that RNAi has had in invertebrate systems like C.elegans and drosophila is beginning to take hold in mammalian systems through both single gene knockdown experiments and genome-scale screens. In the next decade, there will no doubt be both notable successes and failures as we attempt to apply this genetic tool to various biological problems for the first time in academia and industry. Through the introduction of RNAi, mammalian systems have finally gained admittance to the pantheon of model genetic systems.
In the last few years the major effect that RNAi has had in invertebrate systems like C.elegans and drosophila is beginning to take hold in mammali...
The earliest observation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) interactions with the host cell was owl eye cytopathology in various tissues. It was recognized in the early 1970s that human CMV caused in utero infections resulting in congenital brain damage and other sensory neurological complications. Events of the 1980s and early 1990s, such as the wide application of solid organ and bone marrow transplantation and the emergence of AIDS, put the spotlight on human CMV. We understood that the virus was an opportunistic agent associated with immunosuppression. The golden age of cytomegalovirus research was...
The earliest observation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) interactions with the host cell was owl eye cytopathology in various tissues. It was recognized in t...
In recent years nuclear pre-mRNA processing has taken center stage as an important regulator of gene expression and ultimately growth and development. Large-scale genome and cDNA sequencing projects together with bioinformatic analyses of these sequences have revealed that alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs contributes greatly to transcriptome and proteome complexity in eukaryotes. During the last few years, tremendous progress has been made in understanding various aspects of pre-mRNA processing including alternative splicing and its importance in plant growth and development as well as in...
In recent years nuclear pre-mRNA processing has taken center stage as an important regulator of gene expression and ultimately growth and developme...
Controversy still exists regarding how early disease-modifying agents (DMA) should be commenced and whether all patients with relapsing-remitting MS should in fact be treated. To answer these questions, it is also important to know the natural history of the disease. MS affects nearly 400,000 people in the United States. With their novel, multifaceted approach to basic science, the authors of this book offer help to clinicians and hope to patients.
Controversy still exists regarding how early disease-modifying agents (DMA) should be commenced and whether all patients with relapsing-remitting M...
The group B coxsackieviruses have a long and colorful history, dating to the early days of virology as we now know it. In the late 1940s, ultracentrifugation and electron microscopy were new, high-tech tools and suckling mice were suppla- ing monkeys as the virus isolation vessel of choice. Viruses were, often as not, still referred to as "filterable agents. " The rampage of paralytic poliomyelitis epid- ics in the previous 20 or so years had spurred national investment in infectious disease research, resulting in an unprecedented period of virus discovery, eclipsed only a few years later...
The group B coxsackieviruses have a long and colorful history, dating to the early days of virology as we now know it. In the late 1940s, ultracentrif...
Although the utility of human antibodies as medical therapeutics for cancer and immune diseases has been well-established, it is only beginning to be realized for the treatment of viral infectious diseases. Polyclonal immunoglobulins have long been used for some viral diseases, but they have limited potency and disease scope. It should theoretically be possible to create monoclonal or oligoclonal antibody preparations that capture the essential curative functions of the humoral immune response to viral pathogens, yet only a single humanized monoclonal antibody (pavilizumab) has been...
Although the utility of human antibodies as medical therapeutics for cancer and immune diseases has been well-established, it is only beginning to ...
