The Interferons

Anthony Meager is a Principal Scientist in the Division of Immunology and Endocrinology, The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), UK. Following his PhD in Biochemistry (Warwick University, UK, 1972), he has carried out research in biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, virology, and cytokines, especially interferons (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). He joined the NIBSC in 1980. Currently, he heads laboratories involved in the biological standardization of IFN and TNF, and research studies on the bioactivity and immunogenicity of cytokines. From 1990, he has also contributed to regulatory guidance on gene therapy, both for the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization.

I MOLECULAR ASPECTS, INTRODUCTION AN PURIFICATION
Samarajiwa (and colleagues): Genetics and characterization of the type I IFN locus
Hiscott: Induction of IFNs by IRFs
Foster: Interferon proteins: structure, production and purification
Young (and colleagues): IFN gamma: gene and protein structure, transcription regulation and actions
Pestka: Interferon and related receptors
Kotenko: Type III Interferons: The Interferon lambda family
II BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
Fish (and colleagues): Biological actions of type I IFNs
Clemens: Interferons and apoptosis
Hertzog (and colleagues): IFNs and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling
Banerjee and Bose: Viral defence mechanisms against interferon
III CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
Müller: Overview of clinical applications of type I Interferons
Czarniecki: Clinical applications of IFN-gamma
IV MEASUREMENT OF INTERFERONS AND ANTI-INTERFERONS
Meager: Measurement of interferon activities
Grossberg and Kawade: Measurement of antibodies to interferon