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Geoffrey W. Hoffmann, Biophysics |
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Network Immunology and the Symmetrical Network Theory The immune system consists of a large number of white blood cells called lymphocytes and the disease fighting molecules they produce, which include antibodies. Antibodies are capable of recognizing an almost unlimited number of different substances, and it is logical that such recognition should include the recognizing parts of the antibodies themselves. Indeed, it is possible to produce such "anti-antibodies". Lymphocytes are the cells that produce antibodies (B lymphocytes) and regulate the production of antibodies (T lymphocytes) and they can also recognize each other using their specific receptors. Network Immunology is the branch of immunology that is based on the postulate that the variable (V) regions of antibodies, specific T cell factors and specific lymphocyte receptors recognize each other in a way that is central to the regulation of the immune system. Starting from this postulate, a theory of regulation of the adaptive immune system has been developed, called the symmetrical network theory. I
recently completed writing a book on Immune
Network Theory. Chapter
1. Immunology:
many facts, few theories
Chapter
2. Antibodies Chapter
3. Clonal
selection Chapter
4. Immune
responses to foreign antigens Chapter
5. Specificity Chapter
6. Regulation:
T cells and B cells Chapter
7. Non-specific
components Chapter
8. Early
network findings and ideas
Chapter
9. First
symmetry
Chapter
10. Introduction
to the symmetrical network theory
Chapter
11. Complexity,
stability and network theory
Chapter
12. MHC
restriction and network theory
Chapter
13. The
I-J phenomenon
Chapter
14. Second
symmetry
Chapter
15. Self-nonself
discrimination and autoimmunity
Chapter
16. HIV
and AIDS pathogenesis
Chapter
17. Synthesis Chapter
18.
Outlook |