immunology and cell biology texts

[svero]

I'm interested in creating some detailed computer animations of microscopic blood and immune functions on a cellular level. I have a big problem though. I don't know a thing about biology cells or immunology! (well.. very little anyway)

So that being said, I'd like to read the standard undergraduate texts in the field to learn the basics before I move forward. (I might even consider some classes but there are no english universities where I live, so home study seems like the best option even though it may not be the most efficient.)

Can someone suggest some good textbooks that a university bookstore would generally carry? I have a bachelors of science, so basic chem and math etc... is covered. It needn't be too simple. Probably something at the level given to undergrad med students would be fine. (possibly some complementary books in organic chemistry as well, but im not sure how necessary that would be. Someone familiar with the other texts would have a better idea.)

[Eos of the Eons]

The beginner text I have is the Fundamentals of Microbiology - I. Edward Alcamo.

It's rather outdated now though. Somebody must have a better reference.

[gmol]

Janeway has nice pictures for immunology...
I haven't seen a molecular bio book without good cartoons, however lookup "Molecular Biology of the Cell" (forget the author)...

[Quasi]

Originally posted by Eos of the Eons
The beginner text I have is the Fundamentals of Microbiology - I. Edward Alcamo.

It's rather outdated now though. Somebody must have a better reference.

Hey, I have that book too! It is very good, I have the 1999 edition, although it is somewhat out of date now. Another good source is to look into fluorescence and confocal microscopy and how the images are converted into 3D. Confocal microscopes use a laser from the side, and illuminate only one layer of a cell or sample. Very powerful. Our lab is getting one in a few weeks, along with a few fluorescent 'scopes. Particularly striking are the pictures taken of individual fluorescent molecules and their interactions over time in live cells, which grow in the microscope and a computer actually follows and records the same cell over days. Pretty incredible stuff. I am more into chemistry than the biology side though, I hope this helps!

[Prester John]

Theres a good BSc level immunology text call : Immunology
damned if i can remember the authors tho'.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by gmol
Janeway has nice pictures for immunology...
I haven't seen a molecular bio book without good cartoons, however lookup "Molecular Biology of the Cell" (forget the author)...

Ill second that!

NCBI has some excellent online texts, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Books&tool=toolbar

[svero]

Molecular bio of the cell and immunobiology by janeway seem to be the going standards. I'll see if I can pick those up at the local university bookstore. Sounds like they'd be a good starting point. Thanks.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by svero
Molecular bio of the cell and immunobiology by janeway seem to be the going standards. I'll see if I can pick those up at the local university bookstore. Sounds like they'd be a good starting point. Thanks.

Check my link above, you can get free online access.

[svero]

Yeah I saw that, but the navigation is very strange. You have to search and then It doens't seem to let you click for the next page etc... It just seems like a very inconvenient way to browse the books. Maybe I'm navigating the site wrong? There was some mention on the site of pdf files but I dont see any links.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by svero
Yeah I saw that, but the navigation is very strange. You have to search and then It doens't seem to let you click for the next page etc... It just seems like a very inconvenient way to browse the books. Maybe I'm navigating the site wrong? There was some mention on the site of pdf files but I dont see any links.

It is inconvinient, but there is a way of doing it, just cant remeber how of hand. But hey, its free! :D