Latin American Association of Immunology

The Latin American Association of Immun- ology (ALAI) was founded during the First Argentinian Congress of Immunology in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 23-29, 1984. At the constitution of the Association, im- mtmological societies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the United States were repre- sented. Immunologists from Uruguay and Honduras were also present and support from the Mexican and Peruvian Societies of Immunology was received. The Association is a gathering of immunologists from Latin America who are interested in the progress of scientific research and technological develop- ment.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, will be the head- quarters for the period 1984-87.

The Executive Committee is L.C. Girando Conesa (Argentina), president; Nelson F. Mendes (Brazil), second vice-president; A.B.

Mazzolli, secretary; C. Barrera, undersecre- tary; and Y. de Bonaparte, treasurer. The appointed foreign delegates are: O. Stutman, B. Frangione and M. Stadecker (North America); E. Falcoff and A. Roseto (France) and H. Besedovsky (Switzerland).

The First Latin American Congress of Immunology will be held in Argentina in 1987.

The objectives of the ALAI include the pro- motion of scientific meetings, exchange of in- vestigators, programs for collaborative studies and publications, transfer of scientific and technological information, and the active participation of Latin America in the I.U.I.S.

For more information please write to: Dr. Chris Giraudo Conesa, Presidente de ALAI, Las Heras 4081-14°8, (1425) Buenos Aires, Argentina

Human IL-2 reference reagent available

Efforts to establish WHO-approved stan- dards of interleukin 2 (IL-2) have now begun but will require several years for completion. In the interim, a reference reagent of JURKAT IL-2 has been prepared in large quantities and is now available for calibrating in-house laboratory standards of human IL- 2. Investigators may request two lml vials of 1 000 units each per year. The IL-2 is stored at - 70°C and will be shipped to requestors by COD air express. The requestor will have to pay shipping charges, but the reagent itself is free. It can be requested by writing on organization letterhead to:

Dr Gary B. Thurman, NCI - Frederick Cancer Research Facility, Building 426, Room 1, FREDERICK, MD 21701 USA Tel: (301)695-1098 The Biological Response Modifiers Pro-

gram of the Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, is assisting in this way the work of the IUIS Lyrnphokine Stan- dardization Subcommittee (co chairmen: D. C. Dumonde, St Thomas Hospital, London SE1 7EH, U.K. or Dr B. W. Papermaster, Cancer Research Center, Columbia, Mis- souri 65205, USA, Tel. (314) 875-2255).

WHO committee report on rabies

The WHO Expert Committee on Rabies met in Geneva in September, 1983 and has prepared its report as a self-contained docu- ment making new recommendations as well as incorporating parts of the previous report that do not require modification. The 100-page booklet, published as part of the WHO Technical Report Series, contains the col- lective views of an international group of experts on a wide range of issues concerning rabies. Topics discussed include diagnosis and treatment, prevention and vaccines, advances in research and control of rabies in wildlife. Reference material available and the exchange of information and training are

also covered, together with an outline of the step-by step organization of a national dog rabies control programme recommended by the Committee as an aid to Governments. The appendices include some useful addresses international institutes for tech- nical co-operation in rabies control and centres of information exchange - and a list of selected literature on the subject. A com- prehensive document containing advice and recommendations on many aspects of the field of rabies today.

WHO ~Fech Report series, no 709. WHO, Distribution and Sales Services, 1211 Geneva, Su,~tzerland SFr. 9.00.

Immunology Today, vol. 6, No. 1, 1985

Useful guide to negotiating research agreements Now available from the Council for Chemical Research, the 'University-lndustty Ineraction: Guide to Developing Fundamental Research Agreements' is a 40-page manual aimed at simplifying what can be a formid- able task. It discusses the various aspects of the typical university-industry research agreement and contains examples of actual agreements negotiated between universities and companies.

Published by the Council for Chemical Research, Inc., P.O. Box AJ, Allentown, PA 18106, USA. Price US $7.00 (postage paid).

Fauci appointed NIAID director Anthony S. Fauci has been appointed to succeed Richard Krause as director of America's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Dr Fauci, aged 43, has been chief of NIAID's Laboratory of Immunoregulation since 1980 and deputy clinical director of the institute since 1977. His clinical interests have included the effects on human immune responses of suppressive agents such as steroids and cyclophosphamide, and the value of these agents in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

In the past several years, Dr Fauci's laboratory has carried out basic studies on human lymphocyte subpopulations, particu- larly the activation, proliferation and dif- ferentiation of B lymphocytes in health and disease.