Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Promiscuity and the primate immune system.

C L Nunn1, J L Gittleman, J Antonovics

  • 1Department of Biology, Gilmer Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328, USA. charlie.nunn@virginia.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 10, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Characterizing the phylogenetic specialism-generalism spectrum of mammal parasites.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2018
Same author

Is atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> a selective agent on model C<sub>3</sub> annuals?

Oecologia·2017
Same author

The measurement of small-scale environmental heterogeneity using clonal transplants of Anthoxanthum odoratum and Danthonia spicata.

Oecologia·2017
Same author

The biodiversity of species and their rates of extinction, distribution, and protection.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2014
Same author

Reading between the lines - is allometric scaling useful?

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Reply from s.e. Cates and j.L. Gittleman.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same journal

Erratum for the Research Article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave".

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Local signals, systemic decline.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

The mechanics of liver regeneration.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Computing in a memory with physics.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Retraction.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Making time.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
See all related articles

Primate immune system evolution is linked to social behavior. Higher white blood cell counts in species with more female mating partners suggest sexually transmitted diseases drive immune differences.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Immunology
  • Primate ecology

Background:

  • Behavioral and ecological factors influencing immune system evolution are under-explored.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for explaining biodiversity in immune defenses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between disease risk factors and immune system evolution in primates.
  • To test hypotheses linking group size, population density, pathogen exposure, and mating promiscuity to white blood cell counts.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a phylogenetic analysis of white blood cell counts across primate species.
  • Examined correlations between immune markers and ecological/behavioral variables.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • White blood cell counts were significantly higher in primate species with greater female mating promiscuity.
  • Group size, population density, and soil-borne pathogen exposure did not show significant correlations with white blood cell counts.

    • Conclusions:

    • Sexual selection and the risk of sexually transmitted diseases are significant drivers of primate immune system evolution.
    • These findings highlight the role of social mating systems in shaping immune defenses.