The VIIth International Conference on Aspartic Proteinases was held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from October 22 to 27, 1996. The venue was the Banff Centre in the Canadian Rockies, a setting well known worldwide for the scenic beauty and mountain grandeur. It was perhaps presumptuous of the organizers to call this the seventh Aspartic Proteinase Conference but it was felt that the meeting in 1982, organized by Tom Blundell and John Kay, was of an international stature and covered topics sufficiently broad to constitute a conference. Thus, there is a discontinuity in that the Gifu Conference organized by Prof. Kenji Takahashi was the fifth International Conference on Aspartic Proteinases. Officially, there has not been a sixth Conference and if there is confusion, it is the result of my desire to recognize the importance of the London meeting. Banffhosted 106 scientists from 14 different countries. There were 26 invited speak ers among the 44 oral presentations of the 7 main sessions. In addition, there were 53 con tributed poster presentations that spanned the whole range of interest in aspartic proteinases.

The 5th International Conference on Aspartic Proteinases was held on September 19 through 24, 1993, at Naito Museum of Pharmaceutical Science and Industry, Kawashima cho, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, about 15 miles northwest of Nagoya City. About 100 scientists attended the conference, including 52 from 14 countries outside Japan, and 32 papers were presented by invited speakers, and 58 papers as posters. The purpose of this conference was to present and discuss new information on the structure, function, and biology, and related topics, including biomedical implications, of aspartic proteinases, and this book is a collec tion of nearly all the papers presented at the meeting. Aspartic proteinases belong to one of the four major classes of proteinases, the others being serine, cysteine, and metalloproteinases, and are so called since they have two catalytic aspartic acid residues in common in their active sites. Most of them are optimally active at acidic pH, hence the long-used name "acid proteinases," which, indeed, was the major title of the first conference of this series. However, some of them are active at around neutral pH, indicating their physiological roles in a wider range of pH than hitherto considered.

Published in 1995: Aspartic Proteinases: Physiology and Pathology focuses on the advantages and limitations of the use of proteinases and their inhibitors in human pathology. A virus-specific aspartic proteinase enzyme is required for the maturation of a virus. If the enzyme can be eliminated, so can the maturation of the virus. This book reviews the wealth of recently published information sparked by the renewed interest in these enzymes.

This book provides an account of the recent advances in our understanding of the role of proteases under physiological and pathological conditions. It reviews the contributions that have been made in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, medicine, agriculture and ecology. In addition there is an account of the growing number of practical applications in biotechnology, reflecting the fact that peptidases are major targets for medical and agricultural purposes. The book shows how the numerous protease structures are essential for drug design. The contributions place special emphasis on cysteine, aspartic and metalloproteases and their role in physiological and certain pathological states. Another focus is the classification and nomenclature of peptidases and a review of those proteases currently under the most intensive investigation. The book provides an informative introduction for teachers and newcomers to the field, such as graduate students, while providing a valuable source of material and ideas for the academic and industrial researcher in areas including biochemistry, medicine, agriculture and biotechnology.

With its comprehensive, global coverage of all aspects of diagnosis, screening, and treatment in both adults and children, Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology remains your reference of choice in this evolving field. The fully revised 12th Edition retains the user-friendly, full color format, providing in-depth guidance in rheumatology with an ideal balance of basic science and clinical application. New editors, new chapters, and new illustrations keep you fully up to date on recent advances in genetics and the microbiome, current therapies, and other rapid changes in the field. - Covers everything from basic science, immunology, anatomy, and physiology to diagnostic tests, procedures, physical examination, and disease pathogenesis, manifestations and treatment?including key data on outcomes to better inform clinical decision making. - Includes new or significantly revised chapters on Pre-Clinical Autoimmunity; The Microbiome in Health and Disease; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation; Nutrition and Rheumatic Disease; Classification and Epidemiology of Spondyloarthritis; Etiology and Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis; COVID and Rheumatic Disease; Vaccination in Rheumatic Disease; Autoimmune Complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Cancer; and many more. - Features 1,200 high-quality illustrations, including superb line art, quick-reference tables, and full-color clinical photographs; many new illustrations highlight diseases among racially diverse patients. - Shares the knowledge and expertise of internationally renowned scientists and clinicians, including new editors Drs. Ted Mikuls and Tuhina Neogi. - Demonstrates the complete musculoskeletal exam in online videos, including abnormal findings and the arthroscopic presentation of diseased joints.

This volume is the specially commissioned supplement to the journal Parasitology, volume 114.

Cancer-Leading Proteases: Structures, Functions, and Inhibition presents a detailed discussion on the role of proteases as drug targets and how they have been utilized to develop anticancer drugs. Proteases possess outstanding diversity in their functions. Because of their unique properties, proteases are a major focus of attention for the pharmaceutical industry as potential drug targets or as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This book covers the structure and functions of proteases and the chemical and biological rationale of drug design relating to how these proteases can be exploited to find useful chemotherapeutics to fight cancers. In addition, the book encompasses the experimental and theoretical aspects of anticancer drug design based on proteases. It is a useful resource for pharmaceutical scientists, medicinal chemists, biochemists, microbiologists, and cancer researchers working on proteases. Explains the role of proteases in the biology of cancer Discusses how proteases can be used as potential drug targets or as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers Covers a wide range of cancers and provides detailed discussions on protease examples

Ten articles provide an overview of the recently flowering research into the genetics and molecular biology of fungus species that are economically significant in industry. The contributors, from a variety of disciplines, report on work in such areas as industrial enzymes, antibiotics, toxins, heter