Constantin A. Bona : Immune Networks

The International Conference on Immune Networks was held on 39 November - 1 December 1982. The discovery of idiotypes in humans by Dr. Kunkel and the discovery of idiotypes in the rabbit by Dr. Oudin, as well as the formulation of the immune network concept by Dr. Jerne, has had a fundamental impact on the thinking of scientists interested in the area of the structure of immunoglobulin, the generation of antibody diversity, and the regulation of immune responses. The program of this meeting covered various aspects of the immune network with particular emphasis on the new theoretical developments in this concept. Also discussed was the idiotype-determined regulation in various antigens, and parallel sets. The final session was devoted to the understanding of the mechanism responsible for the alteration in the communication between clones bound by idiotype links in various diseases.