Thorn in the Starfish: The Immune System and How It Works

“Gives the reader the feeling of being granted a ringside seat to an exciting series of events. . . .This eminent scientist and writer conveys his enthusiasm for the subject. . . .He has managed to entertain, educate, and enthuse without either trivializing the complexity of the subject or underestimating the intelligence of the reader.” —British Medical Journal

Dr. Desowitz describes the revolutionary discoveries made by Jenner, Pasteur, Metchnikoff, and Ehrlich and what we know about immunology today. His topics include the role of nutrition, the challenge of developing an AIDS vaccine, and the potential of genetic-engineering techniques.