HLA in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

of conglutinin and immunoconglutinins are provided by the late D. G. Ingram. Characterization of these serum factors (conglutinins of normal bovine serum and immunoconglutinin antibodies produced in many mammal ian species following antigen stimulation) that interact with adsorbed complement components, their role in immune reactions and their use as serological tools are competently dealt with. L. N. Ruben comprehensively reviews the variety of in vwo and in vitro immunological studies being performed on amphibians and clearly illustrates the value of this vertebrate class, particularly the tailless anurans, in the study of basic characteristics of immune responses. This putative overview of animal models contains no chapter on avian immunology surprisingly, since the chicken and the quail have offered invaluable and unique insight into the origins and differentiation of T and B lymphocytes. The invertebrates are ignored altogether, al though several backboneless phyla are helpful in exploring the evolution of the cells and molecules involved in vertebrate immunity. These are d i sappoin t ing omissions in a book that otherwise will have interest and considerable value for many immunobiologists.