Although there have been many books on HIV and AIDS, surprisingly little has been published that focuses on the immunology of retroviral infections in general, and HIV in particular. Retroviral Immunology: Immune Response and Restoration is the first book of its kind to address the most important aspects of the immunology of retroviruses, including not only the virus-specific immune responses, but also genetic and virologic factors modulating these responses. The book also deals directly with the emerging concept of immune restora­ tion in retroviral infections, a particularly important subject to the thousands of clinicians who deal with this problem on a daily basis. With the advent of highly effective antiviral drug regimens to slow down the replication of HIV and the progression of AIDS, new challenges and opportunities are arising. Restoration of general immune function has brought with it not only complica­ tions of immune restoration-mediated disease, but also the realistic hope for meaningful restoration of the ability to control HIV replication with the immune system. Leading scientists in the field have summarized the most current informa­ tion regarding experimental and clinical aspects of retroviral infections. Retroviral Immunology: Immune Response and Restoration should prove an impor­ tant point of reference for basic scientists and clinicians in this area of research. We are indebted to all of our authors for their excellent contributions. Over the last decade much has been written about HIV and AIDS, although there has been surprisingly very little written on the immunology of retroviral infections, in general, and on HIV in particular. In Retroviral Immunology: Immune Response and Restoration, world-renowned authorities address the most important aspects of the immunology of retroviruses, namely, immune response, genetic and virologic factors modulating the response, and the HIV-specific humoral and cell-mediated responses. In addition to the basic concepts of immune restoration, key topics covered include immune restoration after antiviral therapy-a highly important subject to the thousands of clinicians who deal with the problem on a daily basis-and vaccine-induced immune response.
Up-to-date and authoritative, Retroviral Immunology: Immune Response and Restoration provides a much-needed critical synthesis of both the experimental and clinical aspects of retroviral infections, and lays the groundwork for developing effective restoration strategies for the many immune-compromised HIV and AIDS patients who suffer fatal opportunistic infections.