Interferon, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1973 Theory and Applications

Interferon has been and continues to be one of the more fas­ cinating substances produced by apparently all animals in response to particular stimuli. It has led to major revisions in concepts of cellular immunity and theories on the recovery of multicellular systems from viral infection. Since its discovery, interferon has held the interest of the molecular biologist, and definitive answers as to its clinical value are close at hand. The following treatise is an attempt by the authors to pre­ sent a complete picture of the many aspects of interferon. Having recently had the privilege of visiting the laboratories of the au­ thors and several others of our Soviet colleagues working in the interferon field, I was most impressed with the amount of research being done in this area. Since a great deal of this work is published in the Russian language, there is unfortunately a time lag until it can be received and translated. We are therefore most grateful to Drs. Solov'ev and Bektemirov for having produced this impres­ sive work which offers the opportunity to review the entire field and, very importantly, some of the work being done by our Soviet counterparts, and also to Plenum Publishing Corporation for pro­ viding the English translation. Work on the mechanism of interferon induction, the relative role of the cellular constituents, and work in cell-free systems and the molecular mechanism of the antiviral action of interferon continues to excite scientists in the field.

I. The Properties of Interferon. The Formation and Action of Interferon Induced in Cell Cultures and Chick Embryos.- 1. The Principal Properties of Interferon.- 2. The Formation of Interferon in Cell Cultures and Chick Embryos.- 3. The Action of Interferon in Cell Cultures.- 4. Interferon Production by Human and Animal Leukocytes.- II. Effect of Exogenous Interferon and Stimulators of Endogenous Interferon on Virus Infections.- 5. Effect of Exogenous Interferon on Virus Infections.- 6. Effect of Stimulators of Endogenous Interferon on Experimental Virus Infections.- 7. Clinical Trials of Stimulators of Endogenous Interferon.- III. Interferon Formation and Virus Infection.- 8. Interferon Formation in the Body during Virus Infections and Its Pathogenic Role.- 9. Interferon Formation in Man under Normal and Pathological Conditions.- Mechanism of Formation and Action of Interferon.- Conclusions and Prospects.