The Immune System: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #544

by Paul Klenerman

The immune system is central to human health and the focus of much medical research. Growing understanding of the immune system, and especially the creation of immune memory (long lasting protection), which can be harnessed in the design of vaccines, have been major breakthroughs in medicine.In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Klenerman describes the immune system, and how it works in health and disease. In particular he focuses on the human immune system, considering how it evolved, the basic rules that govern its behaviour, and the major health threats where it is important. The immune system comprises a series of organs, cells and chemical messengers which work together as a team to provide defence against infection. Klenerman discusses these components, the criticalsignals that trigger them and how they exert their protective effects, including so-called "innate" immune responses, which react very fast to infection, and "adaptive" immune responses, which have huge diversity and a capacity to recognise and defend against a massive array of micro-organisms. Klenermanalso considers what happens when our immune systems fail to be activated effectively, leading to serious infections, problems with inherited diseases, and also HIV/AIDS. At the opposite extreme, as Klenerman shows, an over-exaggerated immune response leads to inflammatory diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, as well as allergy and asthma. Finally he looks at the "Immune system v2.o" — how immune therapies and vaccines can be advanced to protect us against the majordiseases of the 21st century.ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biology, Health, Medicine

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[GridGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 3/12 on my way to becoming a universal genius. If you want to read more about my approach to this very ambitious goal, click here!

I was very excited that the random number generator chose such a fitting topic for me for this year and what would have been more fitting than choosing to read this in March, 12 months after we first went into lockdown here in Germany.
I did expect to learn a bit about immunity and viruses, but I did not expect that a book published in 2017 would warn about the danger of SARS Co-V. Another proof that we need to listen to science a lot more!
I have to say that I learned a lot from this book. Starting with very simple things like the difference between antigen and antibody, and what is so detrimental about catching HIV to more complicated things like the role of the immune system in battling cancer and the potential involvement of the immune response in Alzheimer’s disease.
However, I feel like I could have learned a lot more. And the reason why I haven’t is not the lack of information, but the sheer abundance thereof. So many abbreviations, technical terms and so much to remember. Too much. At least for me, a layperson in this field. So, be aware of that if you want to pick this up. I still felt like I could learn a lot, but I wish it would have been easier at times, a real introduction to the field rather than the overload of details that it was.


2.5/5

A complete list of all the “Very Short Introductions” I’m reading this year and the reviews on the ones I have already finished can be found here.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a volume in the “A Very Short Introduction” [AVSI] series put out by Oxford University Press on a wide variety of scholarly subjects. As the series title suggests, the central objective of AVSI books is to pack as much of the fundamentals of a topic into as slim a package as possible. I read quite a few of these to get the gist of a subject without a lot of extraneous information. In short, they are brief and provide a high caliber understanding of the topic, but they aren’t written to be entertaining and they assume a basic scientific literacy. They usually weigh in at between 100 and 200 pages. (In this case, 144 pp.)

I found the seven chapters were optimally arranged. Chapter 1 describes and delineates the immune system, which isn’t as easy as it might seem. Putting the immune system inside neat borders is hard. If you simply describe it as the body’s defensive system, you quickly run into problems at the edges of competing classification. Sure, B cells and T cells are clearly part of the immune system, but what about skin and mucus membranes? Where does the lymphatic system end and the immune system (which uses it extensively) begin?

Chapters two and three explore the two major divisions of the immune system: the innate and the adaptive. These days, with COVID-19 at the center of global attention, the distinction is probably clear to most. The innate system isn’t geared to take on specific invaders. It has the advantage of being able to fight almost any invader, but the disadvantage of not being able to keep up with invaders that grow rapidly, are good at disguise, or both. An adaptive system response is what we all lack for COVID-19 because it only recently jumped to our species (well not “all of us,” those who had it and are recovered have adaptive immunity and that’s why they don’t have to worry about getting it again [those who have properly working immune system, at least.]) The adaptive response recognizes specific invaders and can raise an army against them tremendously quickly. Vaccines train the adaptive system to build such a response (typically by injecting a weakened strain into the body, but more detail is provided in the final chapter.)

Chapter four is entitled “making memories,” and it is an extension of chapter three. It further investigates adaptive immunity by focusing on the question of how the body develops a memory of those invaders it’s crushed in the past (or that it learned to crush by way of vaccination.)

The next two chapters delve into the two opposing ways the immune system can fail. Chapter five is about immunological failure, or how and why the body sometimes isn’t up to defeating invading adversaries. Most famously this is seen in HIV / AIDS patients, but there are other ways that the system fails in its job as the body’s bouncer. Chapter six looks at what happens when the immune system is too aggressive. [It’s important to realize that not only does the immune system check out foreign bodies, it also checks the tags on the body’s own cells, killing those that don’t display a proper “tag.”] The two major categories of over-performance are: autoimmune disorders (when the body wrongly attacks its own cells) and allergies (when the body goes all “This is Sparta!” on relatively benign foreign objects.)

The last chapter looks briefly at what work is being done in medicine these days involving the immune system, including approaches to vaccines, immunotherapy, biological therapies, and work on inflammation and the how the immune system is linked to aging.

If there was one topic I wish was better (more extensively) handled it would be discussion of what is known about how and why lifestyle choices influence immune system operation. There was a mention of how smoking has been linked to a specific immune system deficiency, and a general comment on how diet and exercise appear to be linked to increased effectiveness of autophagy (the body’s process of self-consumption and recycling of cells,) but that’s pretty much it. As there is a lot to cover in a small space, it’s hard to be too critical about this, but it seems like a crucial topic (if not as scientifically sexy as vaccine research, which is discussed relatively extensively.)

I found this book did as advertised, give me the immune system basics in a quick read. It has simple illustrations to support the text, and has a table of abbreviations -- which can be beneficial given the hugely abbreviately nature of the immune system physiology. There is also a “further reading” section, but it’s heavily focused on textbooks – versus presenting popular science books that cover the material in a more light and entertaining manner.

I’d highly recommend this book if you have a basic scientific literacy and want just the facts on immunity without a lot of meandering narrative.

[Timur Hakan Barak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oxford Üniversitesi Yayınları'nın 'a very short introduction' serisinin Türkçe'ye kazandırılması çok iyi bir gelişme ve birden fazla yayınevi tarafından gerçekleştiriliyor. İş Bankası kültür yayınları ve bilim akademisi iş birliği ile bu eserlerin dilimize kazandırılması çok önemli bir hizmet. Kitap doğal olarak yapısı gereği çok karmaşık ve büyük konuları özetlemeye çalışan bir serinin parçası olarak biraz yavan kalıyor. Ancak alana ilgi duyan ve bilgisi çok sınırlı olan kişiler için çok iyi bir başlangıç noktası olabiliyor ki hedefi de bu zaten. Ancak immünoloji belki de biyolojideki en karmaşık ve zor konulardan olduğu için bu kitapta maalesef yeterli zemini verme konusunda aşılması çok güç eşiğin altında kalıyor diyebilirim. Yine de bazı konuları temelden basitçe anlatma konusunda ortalama üstü bir başarı da elde edilebilmiş. Giriş seviyesinde konuyla ilgilenenler için kısa olması sebebiyle de rahatlıkla önerilebilir.

[Michael Huang · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather common problem with these VSIs is that the authors sometimes seem to forget it’s an “introduction”, not a review guide for the exam of a graduate class. This volume really stands out in this regard. Ideally that extra page budget (compared to say a Wikipedia entry) should be spent to break down complexity and turn it into comprehension for novices. But instead, it seems to become a license to go into unnecessary details.

[Kayce Basques · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gleaned some fascinating ideas but I had difficulty wading through all the jargon.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our immune system is exceedingly complex, consisting of both innate and adaptive mechanisms, the former being a first line of defence against something that shouldn't be in our bodies, and the latter being a learned response, using antibodies, to deal better with the threat should it later resurface or if the first line fails. These two arms of the system work together in a very complicated way in an attempt to keep us safe, not only from invasive pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, but also against any of our own cells that have suffered a mutation and become malignant. It is a balancing act - if the immune response is too weak then a pathogen or a malignant cell can gain the upper hand with devastating consequences - too strong a response and the system can overreact to harmless invaders, or even start to attack our own healthy cells, both with potentially calamitous results.

This book by Professor Paul Klenerman of Oxford University lives up to its name of being a "very short introduction" to the immune system. But don't be misled into thinking that this means the book is dumbed down because it doesn't spare the technical detail, and some parts are quite a challenge to digest. In its 100-odd pages it covers the major topics associated with immunity although obviously not in the depth to be found in a college textbook. Nevertheless, this is a good, all round introduction to the subject and is a manageable length for a non-specialist wanting a "very short introduction". Furthermore, it was only published in 2017 and, given that our understanding of the immune system is constantly being updated with new findings, at the time I read it the information provided was as recent as I was likely to get in book form.

[Mirjam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked this, I do think some topics could have been less detailed whereas others could have been more detailed, but that might just be personal preference.

[Ryan Hoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clearly written introduction to a subject which is always very difficult to explain.

Although succinct, we are taken on an impressively broad tour of the immune system and its implications on personal and public health.

I particularly liked the use of analogy to explain otherwise tricky concepts. Also included are plenty of clinical and historical examples to link the immunology to the real world.

[Herman Klose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very advanced overview

This is an exhaustive and advanced introduction to a very interesting subject. The content, however, was not really easily understood. The book requires some previous knowledge.

[Martin Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

That went a little bit over my head, I'll probably would have to do some more basic reading and take a bit more time, always looking up stuff to really follow.

[Summer Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of good information, but very advanced for an “introduction.”

[Subir Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most fascinating and intricate systems in the human body is the immune system, and Paul Klenerman's book "The Immune System: A Very Short Introduction" offers a clear and brief introduction to this system. A reader who is interested in gaining a fundamental comprehension of the immune system would benefit from reading Klenerman's concise book since it successfully condenses the extensive area of immunology into a manner that is not only educational but also interesting. Klenerman is a well-known immunologist.

The author is able to break down difficult scientific ideas and explain them in a way that is easy to understand, without compromising the book's commitment to accuracy. This is one of the book's major features. Klenerman does a masterful job of dissecting the intricate workings of the immune system and explains the crucial parts, mechanisms, and procedures that are involved in immune responses. He elucidates complicated ideas like as antibodies, T cells, B cells, and the function of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in antigen recognition in a way that is easy to understand.

Because of Klenerman's easy and succinct writing style, even readers with limited or no prior knowledge of immunology will have no trouble understanding the material presented in this book. He illustrates the principles with applicable analogies and examples from real life, which not only helps with comprehension but also ensures that the content is relatable and fascinating for the reader.

In spite of its length, "The Immune System: A Very Short Introduction" covers a wide variety of subjects connected to immunology. Some of these subjects include the immunological response to infections, autoimmune illnesses, vaccinations, and immunotherapy. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding, the author of this book discusses not only the historical background but also the significant discoveries that have contributed to our current knowledge of the immune system.

The incorporation of visual aids was one way that the book may have been improved, but unfortunately this was not done. Even if Klenerman's arguments are understandable, it may have been beneficial to include some diagrams, drawings, or charts to help readers better visualise key concepts and expand their level of comprehension.

For individuals who are interested in gaining a fundamental comprehension of immunology, "The Immune System: A Very Short Introduction" is an outstanding resource that can be utilised as an introduction. The depth of Paul Klenerman's knowledge of the subject is made abundantly clear by the fact that he was able to condense difficult scientific ideas into a book that was yet interesting to read. Despite its length, the book covers a wide variety of subjects and provides a strong foundation for further investigation into immunology. It doesn't matter if you're a student, a healthcare professional, or just plain interested about the intricate workings of the immune system; this book is a helpful and approachable place to begin your journey towards comprehending the extraordinary defence mechanism that resides within our bodies.

[Arno Mosikyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excerpts

Bacteria can suffer invasive threats from specialized viruses, known as phages, that are able to hitchhike on the bacterial DNA. Bacteria have learned to defend themselves through the development of a system known as CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats).

The immune system is not limited to a single set of specialized cells with discrete functions, but is embedded in every cell in the body.

The gut contains trillions of bacteria—indeed 90 per cent of the cells within the human body are thought to be bacterial. This complex flora or microbiome is held at bay by the thin epithelium of the gut, again accompanied by its own mucus layer.

Across many different animals, including humans, lymph nodes therefore hold a special place in initiating and sustaining immune responses.

This clearance function is not carried out by lymphocytes but rather by specialized myeloid cells (macrophages), termed phagocytes (i.e. eating cells), that can engulf blood-borne bacteria in the slow flow of the spleen. As a result, in chronic or recurrent infections such as malaria, the spleen can become massively enlarged in size.

The immune system has been described as a ‘floating brain’, and the parallel with the nervous system is apt.

If a new antigen is encountered in the presence of additional signals indicating it as being dangerous, then a functional immune response is induced. The big breakthrough in this area came with the discovery of how such a danger could be sensed; the idea of the immune system being very sensitive to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) having already been proposed by Charles (Charlie) Janeway some years previously.

This process has been found to be even more extensive, to include the idea of damage-associated molecular patterns or DAMPs.

Overall this group of responses contributes to what has long been recognized as inflammation, the local accumulation of activated cells in tissues responding to tissue injury.

[Bill Tyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immunology is one of those areas of biology that is packed full of different groups of cells split into different subgroups responding to an array of various pathways and interacting with different cells and pathways to produce an array of potential outcomes - in a word complex. Klenerman does an admirable job in trying to maintain clarity in this minefield of acronyms while explaining how cells cytokines interleukins interact with pathogens, tissue damage and commensals to succesfully control and clear invading pathogens or how they can fail and produce autoimmune disease. If you have a background in life sciences this is a great "key facts" guide to refresh you on the basics - for those with no background please give it a whirl it isn't too difficult and highlights so many issues central to current healthcare (why some vaccines produce life long immunity and others don't, how we might improve on vaccines, how engineered cells and antibodies are being used in the treatment of cancer, and what is the current state of research on treatments for AIDS TB and Malaria).

[Mahender Singh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Any introduction, that also a very short introduction, needs to be easy, understand able and interesting while this book is an antithesis of all these factors.
Boring, dull and loaded with a lot of jargons and so called specialist knowledge.
How unimagitative the writer is , is clear from only one example, he directly writes a lot about IL 17 and many other ILs even without mentioning that these are types of White blood cells, about which most of the people are aware.
In first page itself, he goes after complex concepts, terminology and jargons even without introducing What Immune System is.
What a boring teacher the author would be?

[Bob Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first half of the book harder to take in than the second half. Being on a kindle the diagrams are not so great, but are adequate. Its a complex subject and a decent glossary would have helped. I will have to go back and reread the first half. It may be that a subject with so much technical language as this will require the reader to read the book multiple times.

[Rex Libris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good summation of the human immune system. The author discusses what it is, how it works, and the how and why it sometimes does not work right, and the consequences thereof. A bit on the scientific side with lots of acronyms and medical terms flying about, but despite that is is accessible to the layman.

[Ben Erentraut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed to give a good overview, but for my level as a vet in practice, I feel I need a more in depth treatment of the subject. Would be useful background reading for undergraduate students, e.g. in medicine, veterinary science, biological or biomedical sciences.

[Batuhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurzgesagt'ın bağışıklık sistemi kitabının daha ciddi bir versiyonu diyebileceğimiz bir kitaptır. Konuları güzel bir şekilde anlatıyor ve bir profesyonelden çıktığı çok belli. Kitabın sonundaki makale önerileri de oldukça güzel.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good detail for 2nd-year medical students as an introduction to immunology. Easy to read and understand with a bit of prior knowledge although it is always worth looking up terms that you don't understand.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome short and elegant explanations of the human immune system: how it functions normally AND what can go wrong. I will buy this as a reference!

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid review of the immune system.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting tidbits but couched in gobbledygook of jargon, which makes everything slide right out of your head.

[Napalmlolita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Needed more information on how the immune system has evolved, considering it has been argued to be irreducibly complex by the intelligent design crowd.

[tisasday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very portable, which is crucial because the content can get very trying at times and the only reason you can bear to continue reading it is because it is the only book that can fit into a pocket and brought out easily. It just seems that immunology is too complex to be simplified.