The outstanding advances in our understanding of the immune system of the last 20 years have thrown up the important concept of the body's ability, and occasional inability, to launch an immune response against components of its very self. Therefore, it was thought appropriate to bring together some of the world's most eminent contributors to this increasingly important specialism so as to pool their knowledge and arrive at a reflection of the diversity of current research and understanding in this area. This volume is the result of an international meeting convened in honour of the contributions of Professor Ivan Roitt, much of whose research over the last 40 years has made seminal contributions towards our understanding in this rich area of immunological research
