Providing an integrated view of immunology, this text shows how the immune system works physiologically and how basic biology explains clinical pathology and can help with the development of new therapies. The text is organized conceptually. Starting with an overview of the basic concepts, tools and techniques of immunology, the book covers three major areas: mechanisms of immune recognition; the development of the immune system; and the immune response in health and disease. With emphasis on the clinical implications of basic science, the final section builds on the basic principles established earlier to explain immunological diseases from allergy and auto-immunity to AIDS, with special sections on graft rejection and defence against cancer cells.