Featured Outstanding Observations and Theoretical Articles

Spanning the breadth of immunology, Immunology & Cell Biology is proud to present Featured Outstanding Observations and Theoretical Articles - a collection of some of the top articles from recent years.

Outstanding Observations describe striking, reproducible observations that have extremely important conceptual implications but do not necessarily include insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. Theoretical Articles are intended to challenge and provoke discussion in the international scientific community.

Vaccines Strategies in the 21st Century

Vaccines are one of the most effective methods of controlling infectious disease. Although vaccination has been used for centuries, the technologies are largely empirical with little understanding of the underlying immunological principles and physiological mechanisms. As researchers gain knowledge of these principles and regulatory authorities become more stringent in their requirements, changes in empirical approaches have become necessary; rational vaccine design is now essential. The articles in this special feature introduce research on a new generation of vaccines which are logically designed and evaluated. Of particular interest is a new wave of vaccines that induce CD8⁺ T cell responses — in contrast to the traditional mechanism of eliciting a protective antibody response — and how they may be used therapeutically. The accompanying web focus delves deeper into vaccine research, placing recent discoveries into context.

Transplantation Immunobiology

The two greatest challenges facing the widespread use of transplanted organs are availability of suitable organs and prevention of graft rejection by the host's immune system. This special feature on transplantation immunobiology addresses the two approaches to overcome these problems: obtaining transplantable organs from animals (usually pigs) rather than humans (known as xenotransplantation), and developing clever ways of specifically suppressing the recipient's immune system (regulatory T cells are proving relevant) rather than using current, non-specific immunosuppressive drugs that have considerable side effects. The accompanying web focus delves into the various techniques currently available for preventing xenotransplant rejection by modifying the graft, and explores approaches aimed at developing immunological tolerance to transplanted tissues in graft recipients.

Lymphocytes Return Home

Initially, it was thought that primary lymphoid organs exclusively produce cells and that once cells left, few would re-enter. However, recent data have shown that numerous cell types can return to the thymus. This focus brings together a collection of articles representing our current understanding of the field. The accompanying special feature deals with the nature and possible functional consequences of cellular traffic, both lymphoid and myeloid, back to the primary lymphoid organs.

Glycobiology of the Immune System

Carbohydrates are involved in a range of interactions related to immune responses. This collection of recent review and research articles represents our current understanding of the roles glycans play in activating the adaptive and innate immune responses.

Best of Immunology & Cell Biology

Spanning the breadth of immunology, Immunology & Cell Biology is proud to present a selection of the top articles from 2007 and 2008. With a particular emphasis on the cell biology of the immune system, areas covered include: cellular immunology, innate and adaptive immunity, immune responses to pathogens, tumour immunology, immunopathology, immunotherapy, immunogenetics and immunological studies in humans and model organisms (including mouse, rat, Drosophila etc).

Dendritic Cells

This focus presents a collection of review and research articles that outline our current understanding of DC heterogeneity, how different populations contribute to T cell responses, and how T cells differentiate and maintain functional diversity. As well as highlighting the recent advances, the accompanying two-part special feature also identifies the gaps in our understanding and the potential this holds for the future.

Image courtesy of CM Smith and PG Stevenson, University of Cambridge

50th Anniversary of Clonal Selection Theory

The incredible impact on international science of a small paper published 50 years ago is worth celebrating as an exemplar of the immense power of one idea to change our world.

Immunology and Cell Biology Classics

A collection of the best articles from the long and illustrious history of Immunology & Cell Biology: the favourite icon of immunology, Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet.