Recent Developments in Mucosal Immunology

Increasing interest in the immunology of mucosal surfaces is obvious from the number of publications in scientific journals and from the frequency of national and international symposia devoted to this subject. Particularly encouraging are the large numbers of young investigators who have chosen to work in this area of theoretical immunology with profound practical implications. The two volumes represented here are the result of an International Congress Of Mucosal Immunology held at the Niagara Falls Hilton on June 29 - July 3, 1986. This satellite meeting of the International Congresses of Immunology placed emphasis on all aspects of the Mucosal Immune System. This satellite meeting of the International Congress of Immunology placed emphasis on all aspects of the Mucosal Immune System. This included the regulation of differentiation of mucosal lymphocytes, mucosa-associated lymphoreticular tissue and glands, effector function in mucosal immunity, and the effects of environmental antigens on the immune response, all of which are included in Volume I. The second volume has emphasized studies of the immune response and effector functions, IgA biosynthesis and transport, IgA proteases and effector functions, developmental aspects and immunodeficiency, the immunopathology of IgA and mucosal immunoprophylaxis. A total of 218 papers are included in these two volumes and a comparison to past meetings held at four to five year intervals indicates the explosive growth of mucosal immunology. A total of 50 papers were presented at the 1973 meeting and 81 reports were given at the 1977 meeting, both of which were held in Birmingham, Alabama and were published in the current series by Plenum Press. The third meeting in this series, held in 1982 in New York City contained 113 contributions. Clearly, the Mucosal Immune System has come of age. The hosting of a Congress of this magnitude and the compilation of two Volumes of publications obviously necessitates our sincere thanks for the efforts of many individuals and groups. The secretarial staffs of the Editors of these Volumes are gratefully acknowledged. These volumes would not have been possible without the expert skill and dedication of Ms. Yvonne A. Noll, who corrected and retyped all papers in this series.