Interferon Methods and Protocols / Edition 1

by Daniel J. J. Carr

Overview

Scientists from the US, Canada, Australia, and Italy set out some of the current laboratory techniques developed to study specific aspects of events elicited by interferons, which are produced by cells and have anti-viral, anti-proliferative, and immuno-regulatory properties. They begin with a historical perspective on successes and failures in the field, past and present technology, and possible future endeavors. Then they detail such techniques as genomic DNA affinity chromatography to isolate interferon-inducible DNA binding factors, an inteferon-based cancer vaccine protocol applied to several types of murine cancers, and flow cytometric techniques to study plasmacytoid dendritic cells in mixed populations. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781588294180
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	06/01/2005
Series:	Methods in Molecular Medicine , #116
Edition description:	2005
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.04(d)

Table of Contents

Biological and Clinical Basis for Molecular Studies of Interferons
Katie R. Pang, Jashin J. Wu, David B. Huang, Stephen K. Tyring, and Samuel Baron

Interferon Research: A Brief History
Myriam S. Kunzi and Paula M. Pitha

Virus Infection and the Interferon Response: A Global View Through Functional Genomics
Marcus J. Korth, John C. Kash, Jeffrey C. Furlong, and Michael G. Katze

Genomic DNA Affinity Chromatography: A Technique to Isolate Interferon-Inducible DNA Binding Factors
Jyothi Kumaran and Eleanor N. Fish

Protein Engineering of Interferon Alphas
Renqiu Hu, Ke-jian Lei, Joseph Bekisz, and Kathryn C. Zoon

Assays for the Interferon-Induced Enzyme 2',5' Oligoadenylate Synthetases
Saumendra N. Sarkar, Mitali Pandey, and Ganes C. Sen

A Convenient and Sensitive Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Assay for RNase L and 2',5' Oligoadenylates
Chandar S. Thakur, Zan Xu, Zhengfu Wang, Zachary Novince, and Robert H. Silverman

Regulation of Murine Interferon Regulatory Factor Gene Expression in the Central Nervous System Determined by Multiprobe RNase Protection Assay
Shalina S. Ousman and Iain L. Campbell

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways in Interferon Signaling
Antonella Sassano, Amit Verma, and Leonidas C. Platanias

Development of an Interferon-Based Cancer Vaccine Protocol: Application to Several Types of Murine Cancers
W. Robert Fleischmann, Jr. and Tzu G. Wu

Type I Interferons as Regulators of the Differentiation/Activation of Human Dendritic Cells: Methods for the Evaluation of IFN-Induced Effects
Stefano M. Santini, Caterina Lapenta, and Filippo Belardelli

Flow Cytometric Techniques for Studying Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Mixed Populations
Stacey L. Olshalsky and Patricia Fitzgerald-Bocarsly

Analysis of Anti-Interferon Properties of the Herpes Simplex Virus Type IICP0 Protein
Karen Mossman

Interferon Subtype Gene Therapy for Regulating Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cassandra M. James, Emmalene J. Bartlett, Josephine P. Mansfield, and Vanessa S. Cull

Transfection of Müller Cells With Type I Interferon Transgenes: Resistance to HSV-1 Infection
Benitta John-Philip and Daniel J. J. Carr

Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Marion C. Cohen, PhD (SUNY Downstate Medical Center)
Description: This volume in the Methods in Molecular Medicine series starts with two chapters about the history of interferon, with the remainder focused on current aspects of interferon research. As in all books in this series, each chapter includes a detailed experimental protocol. In this book the focus is on a variety of aspects of interferon, its receptors, and its signaling pathways, among other topics.
Purpose: The goal is to illustrate some of the current techniques that are being used to study specific aspects of interferon-elicited events. Indeed, that goal is achieved although it is difficult to determine whether there is a more unifying theme to the chapters than interferon. Nonetheless, the protocols will be very useful to anyone who works in the areas that are covered.
Audience: The book is primarily intended for researchers at any level of experience who are looking for a particular type of assay, thus it is an appropriate reference. The editor is an authority in his specific area of research and he has chosen authors who are knowledgeable about various aspects of interferon research.
Features: A broad collection of research protocols are described in this book. Without listing each chapter, it is difficult to find a common theme except to state that the protocols represent innovative methods and are all focused on various aspects of interferon such as receptors, activation steps, and vaccine development, to name a few. Figures are black and white with one exception. As with the other volumes in this series, in addition to the "recipes," there are helpful hints and troubleshooting suggestions in the form of notes. This manual of interferon-related assays would be a useful reference for a number of laboratories but may not include something for everyone.
Assessment: If one were to want one of these protocols, this book is very useful. Unfortunately, because it is somewhat focused on specific protocols and because the thread is interferon-related protocols rather than something more focused, this may not be a book that is needed by every laboratory. On the other hand, there are a limited number of clearly described advanced protocols available, so that this is a nice reference to have at least in the library.

Doody's Review Service