International Conference on Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics December 01-02, 2016 San Antonio, USA

The transplant of organs is one of the greatest therapeutic achievements of the twentieth century. In organ transplantation, the adaptive immunity is considered the main response exerted to the transplanted tissue, since the principal target of the immune response is the MHC (major histocompatibility complex) molecules expressed on the surface of donor cells. However, we should not forget that the innate and adaptive immunities are closely interrelated and should be viewed as complementary and cooperating.

Transplantation is the act of transferring cells, tissues, or organs from one site to another. Development of the field of organ and tissue transplantation has accelerated remarkably since the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) was discovered in 1967. Matching of donor and recipient for MHC antigens has been shown to have a significant positive effect on graft acceptance. These components include: antibodies, antigen presenting cells, helper and cytotoxic T cell subsets, immune cell surface molecules, signalling mechanisms and cytokines that they release. The malfunction of an organ system can be corrected with transplantation of an organ  from a donor. However, the immune system remains the most formidable barrier to transplantation as a routine medical treatment. The immune system has developed elaborate and effective mechanisms to combat foreign agents. These mechanisms are also involved in the rejection of transplanted organs, which are recognized as foreign by the recipient's immune system. Graft or Transplant: Transfer of living cells, tissues and organs from one part of the body to another or from one individual to another. Establishing immune tolerance in transplant recipients is essential for promoting the long-term survival of an allograft and for preventing the development of harmful graft-versus-host responses.

A hematopoietic stem cell is a cell isolated from the blood or bone marrow that can renew itself and can differentiate to a variety of specialized cells. It have the capacity to  mobilize out of the bone marrow into circulating blood and can undergo programmed cell death which  called as Apoptosis. Apoptosis is a process by which cells that are detrimental or unneeded self-destruct. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are multipotent, the self-renewing progenitor cells that develop from the mesodermal hemangioblast cells. All differentiated blood cells from the lymphoid and myeloid lineages arise from HSCs. HSCs can be found in adult bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. There are 2 populations of Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Long Term and Short Term. Long term HSCs are capable of self-renewal, while short term HSCs do not have this capacity. Short term HSCs, also called progenitor or precursor cells, can differentiate into all types of blood cells, which can be characterized by specific markers. Stem cell transplant process is to allow administration of higher chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy doses to kill cancerous cells. Although these anticancer treatments are among the most effective available, they do not have a precise aim and can destroy normal cells as well. Hematopoietic stem cells in adult bone marrow self-proliferate and differentiate into erythroid, lymphoid (B cells and T cells) and myeloid lineages (granulocytes, megakaryocytes, and macrophages).

Immunomics is an investigation of Immunome research  by utilizing genome wide methodologies. It is  the study of immune system regulation and response to pathogens using genome-wide approaches. With the assistance of genomics and proteomic technologies or innovations, the invulnerable systems and the capacities were considered. The research could  been able to visualize biological networks and infer interrelationships between genes and/or proteins. Recently, these technologies have been used to help better understand how the immune system functions and how it is regulated. Immunomics is a relatively new field of research which integrates the disciplines of immunology, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics to characterize the host-pathogen interface. Discussions on the rapid advances in molecular immunology, sophisticated tools and molecular databases are facilitating in-depth exploration of the Immunome. In our opinion, an immunomics approach presides over traditional antigen and vaccine discovery methods that have proved ineffectively for highly complex pathogens such as the causative agents of malaria, tuberculosis and schistosomiasis that have evolved genetic and immunological adaptations. By using an integrative multidisciplinary approach, immunomics offers enormous potential to advance the  21^st century antigen discovery and rational vaccine design against complex pathogens such as the Plasmodium parasite. Two thirds of the genome is active in one or more immune cell types and less than 1% of genes are uniquely expressed in a given type of cell. Therefore, it is critical that the expression patterns of these immune cell types be deciphered in the context of a network, and not as an individual, so that their roles be correctly characterized and related to one another.

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product. These products are often proteins, but in non-protein coding genes, such as transfer RNA (tRNA) or small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes. The process of gene expression is used by all including multicellular organisms, bacteria and archaea, and utilized by viruses to generate the macromolecular machinery for life. Gene expression is the most fundamental level at which the genotype gives rise to the phenotype, i.e. observable trait. The genetic code stored in DNA is "interpreted" by gene expression, and the properties of the expression give rise to the organism's phenotype. Such phenotypes are often expressed by the synthesis of proteins that control the organism's shape and  enzymes catalysing specific metabolic pathways characterising the organism. Regulation of gene expression is thus critical to an organism's development. Regulation of gene expression refers to the control of the amount and timing of appearance of the functional product of a gene. Control of expression is vital to allow a cell to produce the gene products it needs when it needs them; in turn, this gives cells the flexibility to adapt to a variable environment, external signals, damage to the cell, etc. The importance of  gene expression  are: Control of insulin expression so it gives a signal for blood glucose regulation. X chromosome inactivation in female mammals to prevent an "overdose" of the genes it contains. Cyclin expression levels control progression through the eukaryotic cell cycle. Gene regulation gives the cell control over all structure and function, and is the basis for cellular differentiation, morphogenesis and the versatility and adaptability of any organism.

Genes and Immunity emphasizes the studies that demonstrate genetic, genomic or functional variation in the immune system, and the basic control over the immune system. The immune system varies between individuals both in health and disease. The emerging role for genes outside the MHC will be of particular interest. Genes and Immunity is dedicated to presenting functional immunogenetics, understands how this new field controls the immune system to maintain health and defining its role in disease development, progression and severity. Genes and Immunity emphasizes the emergence of functional immunogenetics and genomics and their role in understanding the immune system and the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases, including autoimmunity, infectious diseases, chronic inflammatory disorders and malignancy. The genetics of immunity is being studied using a wide variety of approaches and organisms from agriculturally relevant plants to genetic models such as Drosophila to humans.

Immunobiology is the branch of biology dealing with immunologic effects on such phenomena as infectious disease, growth and development, recognition phenomena, hypersensitivity, heredity, aging, cancer, and transplantation. Immunobiology is the study of the immune system. The immune system is how all animals, including humans, protect themselves against diseases. The study of diseases caused by disorders of the immune system is clinical immunology. The disorders of the immune system fall into two broad categories: Immunodeficiency and Autoimmunity, Immunodeficiency: in this immune system fails to provide an adequate response. Autoimmunity: in this immune system attacks its own host's body This process involves a complex interplay of invading particle and defence system of the host organism along with successive cascading molecular mechanism to eliminate the invading agent. It charts, measures, and contextualizes the: physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases, malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders (such as autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, immune deficiency, and transplant rejection), the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the immune system. Immunobiology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of organ transplantation, oncology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, psychiatry, and dermatology. Immunobiology is the branch of biomedical science that deals with the response of an organism to antigenic challenge and its recognition. It deals with the defence mechanisms including all physical, chemical and biological properties of the organism that help it to combat its susceptibility to foreign organisms and material.

Cancer Immunology is focused on three major areas,  the basic mechanisms of cancer immunity, engineering immune-based therapies, and developing clinical trials to study these new therapies. Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy (CII) has reported significant advances in the field of tumor immunology.  There are  new concepts and advances in basic, translational, and clinical cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Cancer immunology is a branch of immunology that studies interactions between the immune system and cancer cells.  Based on new research that has revealed genetic links to immune behaviour, they are now combining these vaccines with other treatments, including targeted therapies, bone marrow transplant. Immunology advances also have improved bone marrow transplant outcomes by preventing the patient’s immune system from rejecting donor marrow. Cancer immunotherapy is the use of the immune system to treat cancer. Immunotherapies can be categorized as active, passive or hybrid. Active immunotherapy directs the immune system to attack tumour cells by targeting tumour-associated antigens (TAAs). Passive immunotherapies enhance existing anti-tumour responses and include the use of monoclonal antibodies, lymphocytes and cytokines

          A genetic disease is any disease that is caused by an abnormality in an individual's genome. These are the  diseases that are caused by mutations in one or more genes. The vast majority of diseases fall into this category, including several congenital defects and a number of adult-onset diseases. The abnormality can range from minuscule to major -- from a discrete mutation in a single base in the DNA of a single gene to a gross chromosome abnormality involving the addition or subtraction of an entire chromosome or set of chromosomes. Some genetic disorders are inherited from the parents, while other genetic diseases are caused by acquired changes or mutations in a pre-existing gene or group of genes. Mutations can occur either randomly or due to some environmental exposure. The research  concentrate on the molecular, cellular, and organismic adaptations and responses to nutrients, toxins, and radiation stress and explore the genetic basis controlling the heterogeneity of these interactions in experimental systems. Some of the diseases are Alzheimer's disease, scleroderma, asthma, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, connective tissue diseases, kidney diseases, autoimmune diseases. The genes associated with these diseases, genetic factors represent only part of the risk associated with complex disease phenotypes. A genetic predisposition means that an individual has a genetic susceptibility to developing a certain disease, but this does not mean that a person harbouring a genetic tendency is destined to develop the disease. The actual development of the disease phenotype depends in large part on a person's environment and lifestyle. While we cannot change our genes, we can alter our lifestyle and environment to prevent or delay the onset of such a disorder. Indeed, the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in complex disease continues to challenge researchers.

Osteoimmunology is a new study between the immune system, the hemopoietic system and bone. Osteoimmunology is a field that studies a treatment or prevention of the bone related diseases caused by disorders of the immune system. The cells of the immune system which regulate the bone cells and the hemopoietic function are T lymphocytes. These cells secrete inflammatory cytokines that promote bone resorption, as well as Wnt ligands that stimulate the bone formation. In addition, T cells regulate bone homeostasis by cross talking with BM stromal cells and osteoblastic cells via CD40 ligand (CD40L) and other stimulatory molecules. This research on the immune cells is relevant to bone and the hemopoietic function, reviews the role of lymphocytes as mediators of  the effects of PTH and estrogen in bone and the hemopoietic system and discusses the implication of osteoimmunology for transplant medicine. Mechanism between the two systems in vertebrates, including ligands, receptors, signalling  molecules and transcription factors are included. Osteoimmunology has been investigated clinically for the treatment of bone metastases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis and periodontitis. Scientific study in osteoimmunology reveals the relationships between molecular communication among blood cells and structural pathologies in the body.

Immunotherapy is a broad category of anti-cancer therapies that use the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. These cells are different from normal cells, in that they do not die normally. These abnormal cells frequently change or mutate, to evade the immune system. Immunotherapy drugs are designed to alert the immune system about these mutated cells so it can locate and destroy them.  Cancer is being treated by immunotherapy. Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies, while immunotherapies are classified as suppression immunotherapies. Immunomodulatory regimens often have fewer side effects than existing drugs, including less potential for creating resistance in microbial disease. These are the active agents of immunotherapy. 

A complex interaction of both genetic and immunologic factors leads an autoimmune disease Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). T1DM usually has a relapsing remitting disease course with autoantibody and T cellular responses to islet autoantigens, which precede the clinical onset of the disease process. The immunological diagnosis of autoimmune diseases relies primarily on the detection of autoantibodies in the serum of T1DM patients. Although their pathogenic significance remains uncertain, they have the practical advantage of serving as surrogate biomarkers for predicting the clinical onset of T1DM.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and common cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. The likelihood for an individual to develop MS is strongly influenced by her or his ethnic background and family history of disease, suggesting that genetic susceptibility is a key determinant of risk. Over 100 loci have been firmly associated with susceptibility, whereas the main signal genome-wide maps to the class II region of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene cluster and explains up to 10.5% of the genetic variance underlying risk. HLA-DRB1*15:01 has the strongest effect with an average odds ratio of 3.08. However, complex allelic hierarchical lineages, cis/trans haplotypic effects, and independent protective signals in the class I region of the locus have been described as well.

 The collection of all the alleles of all of the genes found within a freely interbreeding population is known as the gene pool of the population. It is the study of genetic variation within populations, and involves the examination and modelling of changes in the frequencies of genes and alleles in populations over space and time. Many of the genes found within a population will be polymorphic - that is, they will occur in a number of different alleles. Population genetics is the study of the distribution and change in frequency of alleles within populations, and as such it sits firmly within the field of evolutionary biology. The main process of evolution  are natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, and genetic recombination and they form an integral part of the theory that underpins population genetics. Genetics in this branch of biology  which examines such phenomena as adaptation, speciation, population subdivision, and population structure. Population genetics deals with the frequency and interaction of alleles and genes in populations. A genetic population is a set of organisms in which any pair of members can breed freely together. This implies that all members belong to the same species and are located near each other. Each member of the population receives its alleles from other members of the gene pool i.e. parents and passes them on to other members of the gene pool i.e. it’s offspring. Population genetics is the study of the variation in alleles and genotypes within the gene pool, and how this variation changes from one generation to the next. Population genetics is also the most widely misused area of human genetics, sometimes bordering on "vigilante genetics. Population genetics is concerned with gene and genotype frequencies, the factors that tend to keep them constant, and  tends to change them in populations. It is largely concerned with the study of polymorphisms. It directly impacts counselling, forensic medicine, and genetic screening.

Host genetic variation is presently estimated to account for about one-fourth of the observed differences in control of HIV across infected individuals. HLA proteins play important roles in T-cell-mediated adaptive immunity by presenting immunodominant HIV epitopes to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and CD4(+) T cells. Of the genetic variants that have been shown to affect the natural history of HIV infection, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I genes exhibit the strongest and most consistent association, underscoring a central role for CD8(+) T cells in resistance to the virus. Genetic and functional data also indicate a function for HLA in natural killer cell-mediated innate immunity against HIV by interacting with killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). We review the HLA and KIR associations with HIV disease and discuss the mechanisms underlying these associations.

Multiprotein complexes made up of clonally variable antigen-binding chains-the heavy and light immunoglobulin chains in the B-cell receptor, and the TCRα and TCRβ chains in the T-cell receptor-that are associated with invariant accessory proteins.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to have effects on T-cell function and proliferation. Low concentrations of ROS in T cells are a prerequisite for cell survival, and increased ROS accumulation can lead to apoptosis/necrosis. The cellular redox state of a T cell can also affect T-cell receptor signaling, skewing the immune response.

T cell recognition of antigen presenting cells depends on their expression of a spectrum of peptides bound to Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) and class II (MHC-II) molecules. Conversion of antigens from pathogens or transformed cells into MHC-I and MHC-II-bound peptides is critical for mounting protective T cell responses, and similar processing of self-proteins is necessary to establish and maintain tolerance.

Antigen presentation stimulates T cells to become either "cytotoxic" CD8+ cells or "helper" CD4+ cells. An antigen-presenting cell (APC) or accessory cell is a cell that displays foreign antigens complexed with major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) on their surfaces; this process is known as antigen presentation.

Immunogenomics brings together explore bridge on basics of Genomics & Immunology to disclose significant global discoveries in Human Health. It provides a great platform to cover recent breakthroughs in Genomics, Immunology, new genomic tools and its associated areas of research.The global market for genomics is expected to reach USD 22.1 billion by 2020, growing at an estimated CAGR of 10.3% from 2014 to 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Genomics play an imperative role in the field of infectious disease testing by enabling the use of fast and effective result rendering molecular diagnostic tests.