Amphioxus Immunity: Tracing the Origin of Human Immunity covers a remarkable range of information about Amphioxus and its evolutionary context. This compilation of what is currently known about Amphioxus, with a sharp focus on its immune system, includes 13 topics, such as: Amphioxus as a model for understanding the evolution of vertebrates basic knowledge of immunologyimmune organs and cells of amphioxusa genomic and transcriptomic view of the Amphioxus immunitypattern recognition system in Amphioxus transcription factors in Amphioxusthe complement system of Amphioxusthe oxidative burst system in Amphioxus immune effectors in Amphioxuslipid signaling of immune response in Amphioxusapoptosis in amphioxus; primitive adaptive immune system of Amphioxusand future research directions This valuable reference book is loaded with information that will be useful for anyone who wishes to learn more about the origin of vertebrates and adaptive immunity.Provides new evidence on the origin of the adaptive immune system, the evolution of innate immunity, and evolution-stage specific immune defense mechanismsNot only presents the cells and molecules involved in the adaptive immune response in Amphioxus, but also characterizes the origination and evolution of the gene families and pathways involved in innate immunityIncludes much pioneering work, from the molecular, genomic, and cellular to the individual level
