Mucosal immunity encompasses a broad field of research that includes areas of epithelial cell and molecular biology, molecular and cellular immunology, microbiology, virology, and vaccinology. This volume presents up to date and concise discussions of concepts as well as recent advances. It provides an overview of the components of the mucosal immune system, and the basic science relevant to mucosal vaccination. The authors assess current research in critical areas including: Organization of mucosal lymphoid tissue; antigen sampling and presentation in mucosal tissues; mucosalimmune responses and tolerance; immune effectors at mucosal sites; microbial-host interactions at mucosal sites; mucosal vaccines and adjuvants. This multi-disciplinary effort will be a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians and students who need a clear understanding of concepts and a guide to the wide-ranging literature in this very active research area.

List of Contents

Organization of Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue
M Cells in Antigen Sampling in Mucosal Tissues
Dendritic Cells and Langerhans Cells in the Uptake of Mucosal Antigens
Epithelial Cells in Antigen. Sampling and Presentation in Mucosal Tissues
Oral Tolerance and Anti-Pathological Vaccines
Antibody-Mediated Protection of Mucosal Surfaces
Effector and Regulatory Lymphoid Cells and Cytokines in Mucosal Sites
Bacterial Epithelial Cell Cross Talk
Microbial-Host Interactions at Mucosal Sites. Host Response to Pathogenic Bacteria at Mucosal Sites
Host Responses to Respiratory Virus Infection and Immunization
Bacterial Toxins as Mucosal Adjuvants
Bacterial Mucosal Vaccines: Vibrio cholera as a Live Attenuated Vaccine/Vector Paradigm
Recombinant Viruses as Vectors for Mucosal Immunity
Plant Expression Systems for the Production of Vaccines.