"All pathogenic microorganisms achieve pathogen status by virtue of succeeding, in one way or another, in subverting the immune responses of their host," declare Lachman (Centre for Veterinary Science, UK) and Oldstone (The Scripps Research Institute, US) in the foreword of their collection of nine papers examining the mechanisms by which pathogens achieve this subversion. The first three chapters present overviews of microorganism subversion of important components of innate immune response: complement, NK cells, and mucosal innate immune response. The next three papers approach the topic from the perspective of the subverting organism, looking at viruses, bacteria, and nematodes. Finally, more detailed papers discuss how viruses subvert the humoral immune response, the interaction between viruses and dendritic cells, and the subversion mechanisms of the measles virus. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation 2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
