How the Immune System Works

How the Immune System Works, 6th Edition, provides an overview designed to help learners understand how the immune system fits together. Rather than functioning as an exhaustive reference text or exam-review tool, it offers an accessible conceptual guide to host defenses.

The volume introduces both innate and adaptive immunity, explaining how innate defenses deliver rapid responses against common human pathogens while B cells and antibodies defend against common and rare targets. It also reviews lymphocyte trafficking through secondary lymphoid organs, screening for self-tolerance, and mucosal defense in the intestines.

Intended for both newcomers and readers seeking a refresher, the 2019 edition adds a chapter on immunotherapies and includes learning aids such as a glossary and a list of abbreviations.