Antibodies

The third volume in this prolific series of comprehensive reviews of topics of contemporary interest for specialists in B cell immunology. Antibodies have always been vital to any major progress within immunology. From diagnostic tools to vehicles for modern therapy against cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases, antibodies serve many purposes yet our knowledge of them, their properties and structural characteristics is still incomplete. This collection of articles investigates the field of VDJ recombination, the Ku Autoantigen, diseases that impact on VDJ recombination, the evolution of antigen recognition molecules, the use of intravenous immunoglobulin in human immunotherapy, and rheumatoid factors produced in rheumatoid arthritis patients that may indicate a pathogenetic predisposition. Exciting, innovative technological developments used for exploring new areas of study and medical applications are also covered. Traditional aspects of the field are revisited so that relevant information and concepts are maintained as a point of reference to more modern aspects.