Optimal immune responses: immunocompetence revisited

The function of the immune system of an animal is to provide defence against infection, in order to maximize fitness. Understanding this and, particularly, how limiting resources are traded off between costly immune responses and other physiological demands, is central to properly understanding life...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) 2005-12, Vol.20 (12), p.665-669
Main Authors: Viney, Mark E., Riley, Eleanor M., Buchanan, Katherine L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
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Summary:The function of the immune system of an animal is to provide defence against infection, in order to maximize fitness. Understanding this and, particularly, how limiting resources are traded off between costly immune responses and other physiological demands, is central to properly understanding life-history traits and their evolution. Here, we propose that functional (rather than immunological) measures of immune responses should be used when investigating this. We further suggest that optimal immune responses are context specific, rather than generic; that is, a maximum immune response is not necessarily optimal. The nature of an optimal immune response will depend on the specific circumstances and infection status of the animal. Identifying and understanding such optimality requires that the effects of different immune strategies on fitness be considered.
ISSN:0169-5347
1872-8383
DOI:10.1016/j.tree.2005.10.003