Seasonal Patterns of Stress, Immune Function, and Disease

This book presents evidence that infection is cyclical with the seasons, and that this phenomenon is mirrored in cycles of immune function. The book identifies the mechanisms by which immune systems are bolstered to counteract seasonally-recurrent stressors, such as extreme temperature reductions and food shortages. Stress, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and human cancers are examined, and the role of hormones such as melatonin and glucocorticoids is considered. The book begins with an overview of seasonality, biological rhythms and photoperiodism, and basic immunology, and then discusses seasonal fluctuations in disease prevalence, immune function, and energetics and endocrinology as they relate to immune function. The clinical significance of this issue is also addressed, as such seasonal changes may play an important role in the development and treatment of infections. This first monograph to examine seasonal immune function from an interdisciplinary perspective will serve practitioners as well as advanced undergraduates and graduate students in biology, immunology, human and veterinary medicine, neuroscience, endocrinology, and zoology.

ISBN 0521021170   DEWEY edition DC21 ISBN13 9780521021173 (What's this?)   Pages 308 Publisher Cambridge University Press   Volumes 1 Imprint Cambridge University Press   Weight (grammes) 460 Format Paperback   Published in Cambridge Publication date 13 Oct 2005   Height (mm) 228 Writer of foreword Frank Bronson   Width (mm) 152 Library of Congress RA793 .S43 2002   Spine width (mm) 18 DEWEY 616.079   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

Acknowledgments; Preface; 1. Seasonality; 2. Immune function; 3. Seasonal fluctuations in disease preference; 4. Seasonal changes in immune function; 5. Photoperiod, melatonin, and immunity; 6. Energetics and immune function; 7. Hormonal influence on immune function; 8. Clinical significance of seasonal patterns of immune function and disease; References; Index.

' ... an interesting and rather provocative book. The issues explored in the book are wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, and will appeal to anyone interested in seasonality and health.' The Lancet '... valuable to anyone interested in immune function in wild animals, and also should be of interest to epidemiologists and immunologists attempting to understand patterns of disease prevalence.' L. Michael Romero, Tufts University

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