For researchers in immunology, molecular and cell biology, clinical medicine and pharmacology, this volume summarizes aspects of immunoglobulin-like receptors, providing an overview of the roles and characteristic features of immunoglobulin-like receptors and related molecules in the immune system.

The subject of immune deficiency has become of special importance for two reasons. First, conditions with well defined defects in the immune system could be analyzed as "experiments of nature" in terms of finding out the accurate biological relevance of the defective link in the immune system. Secondly, the recognition of immune deficiency states has become important in order to provide the patients with the treatment necessary to remedy these defects. With regard to immune deficiency states in patients, these have been instrumental as "experiments of nature" in the revelation by Drs. Good...

All multicellular organisms may possess innate immunity mediated by defense mechanisms with which the organism is born. In recent years much has been learned about the diversity of innate immune mechanisms. A large array of naturally produced antimicrobial peptides has been de- fined. A variety of cell surface receptors that recognize common patterns displayed by infectious organisms have been identified along with the intracellular pathways that these receptors use to activate cellular defense functions. Cell surface receptors on natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to sense microbial...

The battle of Bollam's World is over, but war now looms over the Orion Arm of the galaxy. The arrival of the most powerful ship in human space is about to set the galaxy on fire. Bollam's War The battle of the five fleets rages in the space surrounding Kithari in the Bollam's World system. Throughout, a specter, barely detectable, slips through the battle, sowing dormant missiles, and unleashing devastating attacks on the enemy. That ship is the Andromeda and Joseph Evans is at its helm. It is up to them, at the end, to be the one ship which stands between the Intrepid and the...

Meanwhile, in the Perseus Arm of the galaxy... After near disaster trying to escape the Transcend at the Grey Wolf Star, Jessica and the crew of the Sabrina find themselves thousands of light years from their intended destination, deep in the Perseus Arm, at one of the furthest colonized worlds in the galaxy. Sabrina has taken damage, Cheeky is in critical condition, and their supplies of antimatter and fusables are critically low. The only system in sight? Controlled by the Orion Guard-their enemy. It's going to take some quick thinking and smooth talking to get the ship...