The incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing worldwide, and the search for better management of these diseases and even for a cure is being pursued by scientists from many disciplines. Tools from the areas of genetics, neuroscience, cell biology, virology, and infectious disease are being applied to the problem and are yielding useful results.

This volume contains the first section of the proceedings of a large, comprehensive meeting held in Sorrento, Italy. Because the meeting focused on such an important area of human health, four volumes have been dedicated to it: Part A presents new principles in autoimmunity, including the roles of key players such as designed ankyrin repeat proteins, SLAM-associated protein, interleukin-12, human proteinase 3, the complement system, IgG, disturbances in cytokine synthesis, and IFN-γ blockers. The second section of the volume takes a look at new diagnostic tools, including screening of endothelial expression libraries, electrical skin impedance, and IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody assays.

Autoimmunity, Part B continues the presentation of basic research and its applications with a focus on genetics. Parts C and D present the clinical research in various manifestations of autoimmune disease and its treatments.

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M. Eric Gershwin is the editor of Autoimmunity, Part A: Basic Principles and New Diagnostic Tools, Volume 1109, published by Wiley. Yehuda Shoenfeld is an Israeli physician and autoimmunity researcher.