| Immunology is a new branch of the medical sciences which has recently gained prominence as a field of study in its own right, but which continues to draw on the more traditional disciplines of Microbiology, Pathology, and Biochemistry. In essence, Immunology is the study of the physiological responses which result when foreign (i.e. non-self) materials are introduced into a vertebrate organism such as man. Traditionally, the discipline has focussed on the body's response to infectious micro-organisms, with the purpose of developing effective vaccines. However, the scope of modern Immunology now encompasses all aspects of self vs. non-self recognition phenomena including organ transplantation, tumour immunology, autoimmune diseases and allergy. Recent major advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of the immune response, as well as the complex genetic mechanisms it requires, promise to provide us with a new generation of prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic reagents of relevance to human and animal health. |