List of contributors 
1 Introduction: historical overview 1
2 Development of T cells in the thymus 15
3 The function of [alpha][beta] T cells and the role of the co-receptor molecules, CD4 and CD8 46
4 [gamma] [delta] T cell specificity and function 70
5 Emergence of the T cell receptor repertoire 92
6 The human T cell receptor repertoire 111
7 The role of peptides in positive and negative thymocyte selection 133
8 T cell activation 151
9 Src-related kinases and their receptors in T cell activation 164
10 Transgenesis and the T cell receptor 194
11 Superantigens and tolerance 224
12 Organization of the human TCRB gene complex 269
13 Genomic organization of T cell receptor genes in the mouse 288
14 Nature of variation among variable genes 303
15 T cell receptor V(D)J recombination: mechanisms and developmental regulation 326
16 Allelic exclusion of T cell antigen receptor genes 352
17 Plasticity of the TCR-CD3 complex 
18 The immune recognition unit: the TCR-peptide-MHC complex 403
19 A structural model of bacterial superantigen binding to MHC class II and T cell receptors 425
20 Biosynthesis of MHC products and its relevance for antigen presentation 447
 Index 469