Never has so much progress been reported in immunology as at this congress. The full impact of new technologies, developed since the late 1970s, has come to fruition: gene isolation, mutation, transfection and expression, protein structure and peptide synthesis, cell cloning, hybridization and monoclonal antibodies, CD serology, SCID and transgenic mice, modern immunomudulation and vaccines. An overwhelming mass of data has accumulated over the last years. The reports are up-to-date and outstanding, to a degree no journal will ever achieve, and the results are presented in a concise and lucid way. This report will serve as a guideline for generations of immunologists to come. Hundreds of new alleys have been opened, an abundance of research tools and goals are pointed to. This volume is a treasure trove of explorations ahead of our time – it is exciting reading. This progress report presents outstanding contributions, worth many prizes – a feature which is unusual for proceedings volumes. Immunology is exhibited at its best: an exciting research area and a rewarding subject to study for the benefit of mankind – today more than ever!