Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the seventh edition
- List of contributors
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Basic principles
- 2 Cell culture techniques
- 3 Centrifugation
- 4 Microscopy
- 5 Molecular biology, bioinformatics and basic techniques
- 6 Recombinant DNA and genetic analysis
- 7 Immunochemical techniques
- 8 Protein structure, purification, characterisation and function analysis
- 9 Mass spectrometric techniques
- 10 Electrophoretic techniques
- 11 Chromatographic techniques
- 12 Spectroscopic techniques: I Spectrophotometric techniques
- 13 Spectroscopic techniques: II Structure and interactions
- 14 Radioisotope techniques
- 15 Enzymes
- 16 Principles of clinical biochemistry
- 17 Cell membrane receptors and cell signalling
- 18 Drug discovery and development
- Index
- Plate section
- References
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7 - Immunochemical techniques
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Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the seventh edition
- List of contributors
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Basic principles
- 2 Cell culture techniques
- 3 Centrifugation
- 4 Microscopy
- 5 Molecular biology, bioinformatics and basic techniques
- 6 Recombinant DNA and genetic analysis
- 7 Immunochemical techniques
- 8 Protein structure, purification, characterisation and function analysis
- 9 Mass spectrometric techniques
- 10 Electrophoretic techniques
- 11 Chromatographic techniques
- 12 Spectroscopic techniques: I Spectrophotometric techniques
- 13 Spectroscopic techniques: II Structure and interactions
- 14 Radioisotope techniques
- 15 Enzymes
- 16 Principles of clinical biochemistry
- 17 Cell membrane receptors and cell signalling
- 18 Drug discovery and development
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
INTRODUCTION
The immune system of mammals has evolved over millions of years and provides an incredibly elegant protection system which is capable of responding to infective challenges as they arise. The system is fluid-based and both the cells of immunity and their products are transported throughout the body, primarily in the blood and secondarily through fluid within the tissues and organs themselves. All areas of the body are protected by immunity apart from the central nervous system including the brain and eyes. There are several cell types involved in immune responses, each with a role to play and each controlled by chemical mediators known as cytokines. This control is essential as the immune system is such a powerful tool it needs careful management to ensure its effective operation. Both over- and under-activity could have fatal consequences.
All vertebrates have advanced immune systems which show the similarities that you would expect from our common evolutionary past. The more advanced the vertebrate the more complex the immune system. Fish and amphibians have fairly rudimentary immunity with the most sophisticated being found in mammals. The immune system is broadly additive; more complex animals have elements analogous to those found in primitive species but have extra features as well.
For the purposes of this chapter we will focus on the mammalian immune system although the use of birds for antibody production will be discussed in Section 7.1.2.
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- Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , pp. 263 - 299Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
References
(2005). Short Protocols in Immunology. New York: John Wiley. (A good background book which gives detail of immunological protocols and how they can be used to investigate the immune system.)Google Scholar
and (2002). Illustrated Dictionary of Immunology, 2nd edn. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. (An excellent book which describes in detail immunological processes and how they interact. A good balance of text and graphics.)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
and (2007). Making and Using Antibodies: A Practical Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. (An excellent book which describes in detail methods for producing, validating, purifying, modifying and storing antibodies.)Google Scholar
(ed.) (2004). Antibodies, Volume 1, Production and Purification. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic. (This book gives good coverage of methods for antibody production, purification, modification and storage.)Google Scholar
(2005). Immunoassay Handbook, 3rd edn. New York: Elsevier. (This book describes in detail background to many clinical immunoassays and how to design and validate them.)Google Scholar
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