Autoantibodies and Autoimmunity : Molecular Mechanisms in Health and Disease

This is the first book to address all aspects of the biology of autoantibodies in a single volume, including a discussion of immunology, experimental models, clinical aspects, and the use of autoantibodies as probes in molecular and cellular biology. The editor, currently professor at the W.M. Keck Autoimmune Disease Center of The Scripps Research Institute, has assembled an all-star team of authors to report on the latest research, technologies, and applications. Following an introductory chapter, the book goes on to cover such topics as cellular mechanisms of autoantibody production, clinical and diagnostic usefulness in human disease, and animal models used to study the elicitation of autoantibodies. The whole is rounded off with a look at future perspectives. With its comprehensive coverage, this volume will appeal not only to immunologists and clinicians but also to cell and molecular biologists.

<b>Kenneth Michael Pollard</b> is Associate Professor at the W.M. Keck Autoimmune Disease Center, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, California, USA. He gained his doctorate from the University of Sydney, Australia, and worked at the Sutton Rheumatism Research Laboratory, St. Leonards, Australia before joining The Scripps. Among others, he is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the Australian Society of Immunology, the RNA Society, the American Association of Immunologists, and the Society of Toxicology. A frequent invited speaker at international conferences, Professor Pollard has also been on six NIH Advisory Committees. Alongside being a reviewer for 13 journals, he has over 50 publications to his name.<br> K. Michael Pollard obtained his PhD from the University of Sydney, Australia. The majority of his career has been spent at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, USA where he has been a faculty member since 1992. His publications include over 40 research articles as well as a number of book chapters and reviews. His major research interests include mechanisms involved in the initiation of autoimmunity and how the interplay between genetics and environment influences the expression of systemic autoimmune diseases. He and his wife Miranda, a veterinarian, share their lives with three Standard Poodles, and four cats named after famous Irishmen.