Living with Germs: In Health and Disease »

Professor John Playfair was the Chairman of the Immunology Department at University College Hospital, where he established the immunology course, until his retirement a few years ago. He is the author of the highly respected textbook Infection and Immunity, soon to be published in its second edition (Oxford University Press, co-authored with Greg Bancroft).

The word germ is defined as 'a microbe that causes disease'. The vast majority of microbes do not infect us at all: it is pathogens that make us ill. These include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, worms, and prions. Living with Germs not only looks at all of these in detail, but also at the defense mechanisms by which we come to terms with pathogens, whether by eliminating them, stopping them from eliminating us, or simply learning to live with them. This is the first book to look at the subject of immunology in a relevant and approachable style. Using anecdotal and autobiographical material, John Playfair has produced a lively, well-written, and up-to-date look at immunology. Timely and topical, this will appeal to all those who want to know the facts behind the 'germ' scare stories.

Introduction: Living with Germs     1
Infection and immunity     5
The pathogens     19
Defence and immunity: the old immune system     74
Sharpening the focus: the new immune system     94
Communication and collaboration     121
The pathogens fight back     137
Getting ill     160
Immunodeficiency     187
Controlling pathogens     204
A look ahead     241
Glossary and abbreviations     251
Biographies     264
Further reading     268
Index     275