The Immune System: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Gives a succinct account of the evolution of innate and adaptive immunity, and how they operate, primarily in humans but also drawing on examples in other animals~Considers the consequences of too little immunity (immunodeficiency), caused for example by HIV/AIDS, and too much, leading to autoimmune and allergic diseases~Discusses some of the important recent advances in harnessing the immune system for immunotherapies, for example in the treatment of cancers~Part of the Very Short Introductions series - over eight million copies sold worldwide