Immunology as both a science and a field of medicine has undergone extraordinary changes over the last 40 years since the publication of the first edition of Immunology in 1971. What was once a discipline defined in descriptive terms is now becoming better understood at the genomic and molecular levels. This has made the writing of the 4th edition, Immunology IV: Clinical Applications in Health and Disease, a formidable task and a colossal undertaking.

This 4th edition has been completely rewritten to reflect the latest research findings and clinical applications of immunology. The work retains the same general three-section format of the previous 3 editions --principles, mechanisms of response and clinical applications --but is enhanced both by the expansion of topic content as well as the sequential order of information presented. A deliberate strategy in the preparation of this book has been to take a departure from the more traditional approaches of textbook writing that would provide a more structured and pedagogically unified presentation of this complex and rapidly changing field of science using concepts and technologies that have only recently been developed to achieve maximal translation of basic immunology to clinical application.

Accordingly, the following features are presented:

• A visual glossary appearing at the beginning of the book containing newly created images of classic structures and products of the immune system, is used continually throughout each chapter to maintain consistency of style
• Each chapter opens with a Case Study selected on the basis of its relevance to the chapter content
• A list of concise learning objectives follows that provides the reader with a framework of key information to be acquired
• Boxes appear throughout all chapters that enrich, engage and deepen the discussion of subject material to assist those readers interested in further-in- depth learning
• Each time an acronym is initially used within a chapter, it is defined and revisited in Appendix 1
• At the conclusion of each chapter, the Case Study is revisited for a summation of information presented earlier with a more robust discussion of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative procedures thus enabling the reader to directly relate the increased body of scientific knowledge to clinical relevance
• Key Points at the end of each chapter are reprised in a bulleted list of concepts and take home ideas that could help readers assimilate the basic science material in a clinical context
• Study Questions/Critical Thinking (5 - 10 per chapter) are provided that query the reader on some key areas of content reinforced with critical thinking opportunities.
• A list of Suggested Readings then closes out each chapter providing the key references along with bibliographic information that are compatible with National Library of Medicine search functions.

In addition to the printed version of Immunology IV, an interactive online version accompanies the edition to keep the book at the cutting edge of developments in immunology that offers the following features:

• A website is provided that will be continually updated that contains an online interactive multi-level teaching format with complete XML text, embedded with over 800 colorful illustrations to help readers visualize complex physiologic and pathophysiologic processes associated with basic and clinical aspects of immunology in health and disease.
• To help readers master key concepts of immunology, we offer a series of high-end state-of-the-art computer generated animations that vividly portray the movement of cells and their interactions with key extracellular products ; readers will find these animations designated in the margins of the text via the ICON where they will help contribute to a deeper understanding of the content
• In addition to the Questions/Critical Thinking section in the printed version, the online version expands this learning tool with a unique interactive Q & A assessment section at the end of each chapter that queries and leads the reader to the correct responses through the use of descriptive material and illustrations that enhance the learning process
• The online version also contains hyperlinks with other learning sources and opportunities for direct queries in an “Ask the Professor” format