The Logic of Immunity: Deciphering an Enigma

B J Cherayil
Johns Hopkins University Press, £27.50

Immunology is a jargon-filled, labyrinthine subject that novice medical and biomedical students often struggle to understand, yet they must master it to value the power of the human immune system. How to make immunology more accessible to undergraduates has vexed generations of medical and life science educators.

In this latest attempt to meet this pedagogical challenge, veteran mucosal immunologist Bobby J Cherayil brings great experience of his specialism, the complexities of which he elucidates in a refreshingly simple and engaging manner. He opens by explaining the evolution of the immune system to fight infection, then discusses its interactions with other human body systems. He explores why some individuals develop autoimmune diseases while others do not, and examines how lifestyle choices can influence immune activation or suppression.

The author is exact in his reasoning, drawing on relatable analogies and ignoring the trap of speculation. Where our current knowledge has gaps, the book states this before partaking in hypothesising. It tells the story of immunological research over the past 150 years, blending historical anecdotes with precise definitions of terms, traits and relationships of the chemical, biomolecular and cellular players in the immune response. The treatment of clinical immunology is possibly too shallow for a specialist postgraduate, but as a primer for a healthcare professional in training, this slim volume should bring reassuring clarity of understanding.

Professor Andrew Taylor-Robinson CBiol FRSB

Reviewed by Professor Andrew Taylor-Robinson CBiol FRSB, Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi