Front Cover; International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology; International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology; International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology; Copyright; Contents; Contributors; Comparative Biology of the Pentraxin Protein Family: Evolutionarily Conserved Component of Innate Immune System; 1. Introduction; 2. Characteristics of the Pentraxin Proteins; 2.1 Diverse Pentraxin Protein Family; 2.2 Purification of Pentraxin Proteins; 2.3 Structure of Pentraxin Proteins; 3. Acute-Phase Response; 4. Contribution of the Pentraxins to Immune Defense

4.1 Molecular Targets of Pentraxins4.2 Binding to Lipopolysaccharide; 4.3 Membrane Permeation; 4.4 Binding to Bacteria; Antibacterial Actions; 4.5 Opsonization and the CRP Receptor; 4.6 Agglutination of Bacteria; 4.7 Activation of Complement; 5. Pentraxins Contribute to Tissue Injury Repair, Tissue Remodeling, and Tissue Stability; 5.1 Binding of Mammalian SAP to DNA; 5.2 Binding of Pentraxins to Apoptotic and Otherwise Damaged Cells; 5.3 Binding of Pentraxins to Extracellular Matrix; 5.3.1 Binding to immobilized fibronectin; 5.3.2 Binding to egg integuments

5.3.3 Binding of pentraxins to amyloid plaque5.3.4 Binding of pentraxins to extracellular blood clot; 5.3.5 Binding of pentraxins to neutrophil extracellular trap; 6. Summary and Prospects for Future Research; Acknowledgments; References; New Insights into the Role of Ficolins in the Lectin Pathway of Innate Immunity; 1. Introduction; 2. General Features of the Ficolin Family; 2.1 Common Structures of Ficolins; 2.2 Loci and Structures of Ficolin Genes; 2.3 Expression and Location Sites of Ficolins; 2.4 Lectin Activity of Ficolins and Its Molecular Basis

2.5 Binding of Ficolins to Microorganisms3. Unique Function of Ficolins in Activation of Complement; 3.1 Ficolin-MASP Complex in Lectin Pathway; 3.2 MASP as a Key Enzyme of Lectin Pathway; 3.3 Cross Talk and Collaboration of Ficolins with Noncomplement Proteins; 4. Innate Immune Function of Ficolins in Endogenous Homeostasis; 4.1 Handling Apoptotic and Necrotic Cells; 4.2 Involvement of Ficolins in Immune Signaling; 5. Association of Ficolins with Diseases; 5.1 Ficolin Deficiency; 5.2 Phenotype of Ficolin-Knockout Mice

5.3 Gene Polymorphisms, Serum Concentrations of Ficolins and Their Association with Diseases6. Phylogeny of the Ficolin Family and Evolution of Complement System; 6.1 Phylogeny of Ficolin Family; 6.2 Phylogeny of Components Involved in Lectin Pathway; 6.3 Evolution of Complement Activation Pathway; 7. Concluding Remarks; Acknowledgments; References; Leguminous Plants: Inventors of Root Nodules to Accommodate Symbiotic Bacteria; 1. Introduction; 2. Nodule Developmental Process; 2.1 Morphology of Nodules; 2.2 Positive Regulation of Nodulation; 2.2.1 A signaling pathway to induce nodulation