Springer Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology: Allergic Diseases

Volume Allergic Diseases is a comprehensive, multi-authored reference work, offering a broad appeal to microbiologists, immunologists, and infectious disease specialists. The volume explores all aspects of allergic diseases, body systems and vaccines. Emphasis is placed on genetics, physiology, metabolism, pathogenesis, and applied microbiology. Under the leadership of some of the most world renowned names in the field, the encyclopedia brings together an outstanding collection of contributions by top scientists in a variety of fields. The entries are listed alphabetically and provide full references. The volume covers the following topics: • Food Allergy and gastrointestinal Allergic Diseases • Insect Allergy • Allergy Diagnosis and Testing • Allergy Treatment: Pharmacotherapy • Asthma and Other Allergic Lower Respiratory Disease • Biology of IgE, Mast Cells and Eosinophils • Specific Allergens Causing Human Disease • Atopic Dermatitis, Urticaria and Dermatologic Allergy • Allergy Treatment: Immunotherapy, Immunomodulator Therapy and Allergen Avoidance About the Author Professor Ian Mackay is an Honorary Professional Research Fellow of Monash University, Australia, and member of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In a career spanning over six decades, with over 700 publications, Professor Mackay has gained international recognition as a pioneer in the area of autoimmunity; with his research contributing to the development of immunosuppressive treatment for autoimmune diseases. In recognition of his service to medical research, Prof. Mackay was included in the 1981 Australia Day Honours list and was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia. In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and science in biochemistry and molecular biology. Dr. Rose is the Director of Center for Autoimmune Disease Research and a Professor in the Department of Pathology (with joint appointment in Department of Medicine), the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a Professor in the W. Henry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Rose also served as the Chairman of the Autoimmune Diseases Coordinating Committee of the National Institutes of Health and a principal advisor to the former U.S. NIH Director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni. He was the Chairman of the W. Henry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health for more than a decade. Dr. Rose’s pioneering studies on autoimmune thyroiditis and myocarditis helped to initiate the modern era of research on autoimmune diseases. Dr. Rose and his colleagues have continued to contribute to our understanding of autoimmunity, including the first demonstration of the genetic factors responsible for predisposition to autoimmune disease in animals and more recent investigations on the influence of infection and environmental agents in the initiation of autoimmune disease in genetically predisposed animals. Dr. Rose is the co-author of the textbook The Autoimmune Diseases (now 3rd edition) and former Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Immunology. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of The Year in Immunology.