Anti-Idiotypic Vaccines

Since the network hypothesis was first elaborated by Niels Jerne, the concept of internal images and idiotype has stimulated much research. Here, ten critical reviews consider both fundamental aspects and practical applications of idiotypes for vaccines.

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For the third volume in the new series "Progress in Vaccinology", Pierre-Andre Cazenave has assembled ten invited critical reviews by leadins researchers in the fields of immunology and vaccinology. Since the network hypothesis was first elaborated by Niels Jerne, the concept of internal images and idiotype has stimulated considerable research and discussion, in particular the design of more efficient vaccination methods than traditional procedures provide. In this volume both fundamental aspects and pratical applications of idiotype for vaccines are considered. Anti-Idiotype Vaccines first establishes a conceptual framework, the considers animal models for specific idiotype reagents, including their role as potential tumor and viral vaccines. Other topics include: relevance of idiotype vaccines to carbohydrate antigens; implications of human VH gene family polymorphism for idiotype; novel approaches to immunprophylaxis against parasites; and structural and functional manipulation and anti-idiotypes by antibody engineering.