Biological and Clinical Basis for Molecular Studies of Interferons -- Interferon Research -- Virus Infection and the Interferon Response -- Genomic DNA Affinity Chromatography -- Protein Engineering of Interferon Alphas -- Assays for the Interferon-Induced Enzyme 2?,5? Oligoadenylate Synthetases -- A Convenient and Sensitive Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Assay for RNase L and 2?,5? Oligoadenylates -- Regulation of Murine Interferon Regulatory Factor Gene Expression in the Central Nervous System Determined by Multiprobe RNase Protection Assay -- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways in Interferon Signaling -- Development of an Interferon-Based Cancer Vaccine Protocol -- Type I Interferons as Regulators of the Differentiation/Activation of Human Dendritic Cells -- Flow Cytometric Techniques for Studying Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Mixed Populations -- Analysis of Anti-Interferon Properties of the Herpes Simplex Virus Type I ICP0 Protein -- Interferon Subtype Gene Therapy for Regulating Cytomegalovirus Disease -- Transfection of Müller Cells With Type I Interferon Transgenes.

Although some interferons (IFNs) are widely used for their antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunoregulatory properties, there are many IFN-stimulatory genes that have unknown functions, but hold great promise in medicine and biomedical research. In Interferon Methods and Protocols, leading experts actively engaged in interferon research describe in detail their optimized methods to measure type I interferon efficacy as an antiproliferative or an antiviral agent. These cutting-edge techniques range from the simple to the highly complex and serve to illuminate the signaling cascades and the activation of enzymatic pathways prompted by interferon. Two chapters add an historical perspective to the field in general, discussing the successes and failures of past and present day technology, as well as the appropriate directions for consideration of future investigations. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine™ series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. State-of-the-art and highly practical, Interferon Methods and Protocols offers researchers powerful tools not only to ascertain the functions of IFN-stimulatory gene products, but also to identify additional molecular pathways that will clarify our understanding of the many biological events influenced by IFNs.