This extensive volume covers basic and advanced aspects of peptide antibody production, characterization and uses. Although peptide antibodies have been available for many years, they continue to be a field of active research and method development. For example, peptide antibodies which are dependent on specific posttranslational modifications are of great interest, such as phosphorylation, citrullination and others, while different forms of recombinant peptide antibodies are gaining interest, notably nanobodies, single chain antibodies, TCR-like antibodies, among others. Within this volume, those areas are covered, as well as several technical and scientific advances: solid phase peptide synthesis, peptide carrier conjugation and immunization, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and elucidation of the molecular basis of antigen presentation and recognition by dendritic cells, macrophages, B cells and T cells. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and authoritative, Peptide Antibodies: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal reference for researchers exploring this vital and expansive area of study.

Peptide antigens and anti-peptide antibodies are widely used in biochemistry and molecular biology for the measurement, location, and purification of specific oligopeptides. More recently the application of these reagents has expanded, for example in the identification and mapping of the binding sites of antibodies and T-cell receptors and in the identification and characterization of proteins which are known only by their primary structure. This volume provides practical guidance to the major techniques used in the exploitation of peptide antigens and anti-peptide antibodies. The chapters give detailed protocols for the prediction of epitopes, peptides synthesis, the preparation of peptide immunogens, immunoaffinity chromatography, immunoassays, and the mapping of epitopes using both synthetic peptides and phage display systems. Peptide Antigens: A Practical Approach covers all practical aspects of this important and growing subject. It is a unique compendium of methods for workers in biochemistry, molecular biology, and immunology who need to use this technology in their research.

The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.

Antibodies are key reagents in diagnostics and experimental biology, capable of detecting numerous antigenic targets. Proteins are often in focus and are usually effective targets for antibody production. Occasionally, however, the native protein is known but not available, or a very specific target is required. In these cases, synthetic peptides, copying essential sequences from the target, are good alternatives for antibody production. Peptide antibodies have been used in diagnostics and experimental biology with great success, especially because they can be produced to multiple targets, for example, native and denatured targets. Traditional peptide antibody proteins encompass animal-based immunization with a synthetic peptide, usually conjugated to a carrier protein to enhance immune presentation, as small peptides tend not to be immunogenic by themselves. There are several strategies for the conjugation of peptides to carriers applied for immunization. This is the most used approach for peptide antibody production. In addition to traditional peptide antibody production, peptide antibodies can be produced using libraries or sequencing. This Special Issue, "Design, Production and Characterization of Peptide Antibodies", aims to describe the current state-of-the-art techniques and characterization/applications within the field as well as new and emerging uses of peptide antibodies.

Combining principles of modern immunology with applications to immunopathology, this reference documents developments in the immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases - emphasizing monoclonal antibody and peptide approaches. receptor itself to intervening at the level of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, Monoclonal Antibodies and Peptide Therapy in Autoimmune Diseases: provides an update on T-cell basic science; discusses most monoclonal antibodies used in autoimmune disease experiments; describes the concept of peptide therapy in its various forms; and presents fundamental pharmacological data that clarify the clinical usage of these new agents. Therapy in Autoimmune Diseases should be a useful resource for immunologists, rheumatologists, pharmacologists, pathologists, dermatologists, nephrologists, and graduate and medical school students in these disciplines.

Both novices and experts will benefit from this insightful step-by-step discussion of phage display protocols.Phage Display of Peptides and Proteins: A Laboratory Manual reviews the literature and outlines the strategies for maximizing the successful application of phage display technology to one's research. It contains the most up-to-date protocols for preparing peptide affinity reagents, monclonal antibodies, and evolved proteins. - Prepared by experts in the field - Provides proven laboratory protocols, troubleshooting, and tips - Includes maps, sequences, and sample data - Contains extensive and up-to-date references

Topics Covered Include: X-ray crystallography of ligands. Catalytic antibodies. Nature of the antigen. Antibody binding sites. Maturation of the immune response. Computational biochemistry of antibodies and T-cell receptors. Antigen-specific T-cell receptors and their reactions.Key Features* X-Ray Crystallography of Ligands* Catalytic Antibodies* Nature of the Antigen* Antibody Binding Sites* Maturtion of the Immune Response* Computational Biochemistry of Antibodies and * T-Cell Receptors* Antigen-Specific T-Cell Receptors and Their Reactions

The student of biological science in his final years as an undergraduate and his first years as a graduate is expected to gain some familiarity with current research at the frontiers of his discipline. New research work is published in a perplexing diversity of publications and is inevitably con cerned with the minutiae of the subject. The sheer number of research journals and papers also causes confusion and difficulties of assimilation. Review articles usually presuppose a background knowledge of the field and are inevitably rather restricted in scope. There is thus a need for short but authoritative introductions to those areas of modern biological research which are either not dealt with in standard introductory textbooks or are not dealt with in sufficient detail to enable the student to go on from them to read scholarly reviews with profit. This series of books is designed to satisfy this need. The authors have been asked to produce a brief outline of their subject assuming that their readers will have read and remembered much of a standard introductory textbook of biology. This outline then sets out to provide by building on this basis, the conceptual framework within which modern research work is progressing and aims to give the reader an indication of the problems, both conceptual and practical, which must be overcome if progress is to be maintained.

The Novartis Foundation Series is a popular collection of the proceedings from Novartis Foundation Symposia, in which groups of leading scientists from a range of topics across biology, chemistry and medicine assembled to present papers and discuss results. The Novartis Foundation, originally known as the Ciba Foundation, is well known to scientists and clinicians around the world.