Macrolides as Immunomodulatory Agents (eBook)

For over 50 years, clinicians have known that macrolide antibiotics have effects on inflammation and the immune system that are not related to their antimicrobial properties. These immunomodulatory properties, best described for treating inflammatory airway diseases, protect the lung and the host and improve clinical status. 

This book summarizes our current knowledge regarding proposed mechanisms for these properties, established clinical results, and what the future may hold with emphasis on novel clinical applications and the fascinating development of non-antimicrobial macrolides with preserved and enhanced immunomodulatory properties.

Professor Bruce K. Rubin is the Jessie Ball duPont Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University. He trained in Biomedical Engineering at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship and in Paediatric Respirology in Toronto. He holds the MD and MEngr degrees from Tulane and an MBA degree from Wake Forest University.

Prof. Rubin received the Forest Bird Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award and the Jimmy A Young Medal from the American Association for Respiratory Care, and he is a Prix Galien Laurate. He holds appointments in four medical schools, is on the editorial board of 10 journals, has published more than 300 original research papers and chapters (H-index 74) and holds 10 patents. His research focus is regulation of mucus clearance in health and disease, airway inflammation and immunomodulation, and aerosol delivery of medications. 

Dr. Rubin is also a magician, a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (Wizard Award) and over the past 30 years has taught medical magic in 43 countries on 5 continents.

Dr. Masaharu Shinkai is the Vice Director of Tokyo Shinagawa Hospital and also the Director of the Clinical Trial Development & Research Center. He holds the MD from National Defense Medical College and a PhD degree from Yokohama City University. He has been involved in many respiratory clinical trials and drug development in Japan. In the last five years, he has been the principal investigator in 35 clinical trials, 22 of which have achieved FPI (First Patient In). He has about 100 articles on PubMed. Most recently, he has published 24 clinical and immunological papers on COVID-19 and its vaccines. His research focus is homeostasis, immunomodulation and mucus regulation in airway inflammation.