For this course the online notes will be adequate for most people. You may want to consult a text occasionally, or buy one. At this level Wikipedia is not good enough! There is really no perfect text for students, as most have too much detail to be used as anything but a reference; but as such, some are quite good. Comments are arranged here roughly in order of JJC's preference, which may not be yours. Don't get a book more than about 4 years old.
IMMUNITY, by DeFranco, Locksley, and Robertson, New Science Press, London, 2007. It's not easy to describe this book, which is up-to-date and comprehensive; every subject is restricted to a 2-page spread. But everything is in there. Detail rules here; it is the best general book for researchers I've ever seen. Currently $42.00.
KUBY IMMUNOLOGY by Kindt, Osborne, and Goldsby. W. H. Freeman, New York, 2007. (Sixth edition). The current edition of the late Janice Kuby's book. This has long been the favorite of immunology graduate students —clearly written, experimentally based. Some differences now with 3 new authors, so check that you like it before you buy. 603 pp. $82.
IMMUNOBIOLOGY: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN HEALTH AND DISEASE, by Janeway and others. Garland, London, 2007. (Seventh edition). This book is well-illustrated, complete, and up-to-date. Too much to read, but a very useful reference—especially for basic immunology—that will remain current for a while. 928 pp. plus CD-ROM. $83.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, by Peter Parham. Garland, London & New York, 2009. (Third edition). A new edition that is pretty good. It is derived from the Janeway book, above; I guess it's “Immunobiology Lite”. Compare the two on a particular subject and see which you prefer. 608 pp. A little costly at $88.00.
ESSENTIAL IMMUNOLOGY, by Roitt, Martin, Delves, and Burton. Blackwell, Oxford, 2006. (Eleventh edition). The 11th has 2 new authors, and is overall a good and current book. Too much detail, and the organization is very different from that of our course. The humor is British. Reasonable basic/clinical balance; basic is better in Janeway, clinical is better in Roitt. 456 pp. and a Web site. $49.00.
The following are specialized references:
IMMUNOLOGY FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access, by Roderick Nairn and Matthew Helbert. Mosby, Philadelphia, 2006 (Second edition). Probably not the book for graduate students, but of interest because Rod Nairn is our UCD Provost. Cheap-ish at $50.00.
FUNDAMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Edited by Paul. Lippincott Williams & Wilkens, Philadelphia, 2008 (Sixth edition). A multiauthor, 187 dollar book (Amazon) that is as good a single-volume reference as there is, especially for people planning a career in immunology, and nicely up to date. 1600 pp. Includes Web access to all the text, plus hyperlinks.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE, Edited by Rich, Fleisher, Shearer, Schroeder, Frew, Weyand. Mosby, Philadelphia, 2008 (Third edition). The reference for clinical immunology; 101 chapters, 1600+ pages. Of course it lists for $399.