Main description:

The cells of the immune system generate a large variety of binding sites which differ in their binding specificities and can therefore react specifically with a large variety of ligands. These binding sites are part of receptor molecules, enabling the system to react to the universe of antigens. The classical antigen receptor is the antibody molecule, and accord ingly the first session of this colloquium deals with a classical sub ject, namely antibody structure. Dramatic recent advances in this field make it possible to interrelate primary and three-dimensional struc ture both to each other and to function, i.e. the binding of antigen and possible reactions occurring in the antibody molecule upon antigen binding. The latter point is of particular interest since it may be relevant not only for effector functions of antibodies such as the binding of complement, but also for the triggering of a lymphocyte through its antibody receptor for antigen.

Contents:

Antibody Structure.- The Structural Basis of Antibody Specificity.- Structure and Specificity of Immunoglobulins.- X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Immunoglobulin Structure.- Recognition and Allostery in the Mechanism of Antibody Action.- Antibody Structural Genes.- Structure and Genetics of Antibodies.- Genetic Control of T and B Cell Receptor Specificity in the Mouse.- Immunoglobulin mRNA and Immunoglobulin Genes.- Differentiation of Immunoglobulin Genes.- Immunocompetent Cells.- Phylogenesis of the Vertebrate Immune System.- Characteristics of B Lymphocytes and Their Mechanism of Activation.- T Lymphocytes.- Tumors of Immunoglobulin-Producing Cells and Thymus-Derived Lymphocytes.- Macrophages.- The Major Histocompatibility Complex and Cellular Recognition.- The Major Histocompatibility Complex and Its Biological Function.- Specificity of Immune Response Control by H-Linked Ir Genes.- The Structure of Products of the Major Histocompatibility Complex in Man.- The Structure and Evolution of Transplantation Antigens.- Chemical Structure and Biological Activities of Murine Histocompatibility Antigens.- Immune Response Region Associated (Ia) Antigens. Some Structural Features.- General Aspects of the Immune System.- The Immune System: A Network of Lymphocyte Interactions.- Clonal Selection and Network Regulation.- Considerations on Immunity and Disease.- Two Immunological Worlds: Antibody Molecules and Lymphoid Cell-Surfaces An Overview of the Mosbach Colloquium.