Bacterial Immunoglobulin-Binding Proteins, Volume 1: Microbiology, Chemistry, and Biology investigates the immunoglobulin and Fc-binding proteins that have been isolated and characterized from a wide array of microorganisms, including protein A from staphylococcus and protein G from streptococcus. It examines the antigenic relationships among bacterial immunoglobulin-binding proteins, the immunoglobulin D-binding bacteria, the complement activation and bacterial immunoglobulin-binding proteins, the nature of the interaction of bacterial Fc receptors and immunoglobulin G, and the bacterial Fc receptors as putative virulence factors. Organized into 31 chapters, this volume begins with a historical overview of bacterial immunoglobulin-binding proteins, receptors for immunoglobulins, amino acid sequence of Fc receptors, and cloning of genes. It then discusses the staphylococcal protein A, including its biological activities and applications to immunotechnology. The book also explains the gene for staphylococcal protein A, immunoglobulin G Fc receptors of group A streptococci, and streptococcal protein G. It presents the structure and evolution of the streptococcal genes encoding protein G and interaction of bacterial immunoglobulin receptors with sites in the Fab region. It also discusses the lymphocyte stimulation by bacterial Fc receptors and cloning and expression of the beta protein gene of group B streptococci. The book concludes with a chapter on Fc receptors and the pathogenesis of bacterial infections in animals. This book will be of interest to biologists, microbiologists, chemists, and researchers working with immunoglobulin-binding proteins found in bacteria.