Related Experiment Videos
The evolutionary economics of immunity
Michiel van Boven1, Franz J Weissing
1Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands. michiel.vanboven@wur.nl
The American Naturalist
|February 19, 2004
Summary
Individuals face a trade-off when investing in a costly immune system. Optimal immune function depends on various factors, and evolution can lead to either high or low investment.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Immune systems are costly, diverting resources from fertility and longevity.
- Immune function protects against pathogens but can cause immunopathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the optimal investment in a costly immune system using evolutionary game theory.
- To analyze the trade-offs between immune investment, host survival, and pathogen dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Application of evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) analysis to an epidemic model.
- Utilizing a reproductive value approach to compare costs and benefits of immune function.
Main Results:
- Optimal immune investment is not solely dependent on lifespan; long-lived species may invest less.
- Reduced infection prevalence is not always achieved.
- Evolutionary outcomes are contingent on initial conditions, leading to high or low investment strategies.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between lifespan and immune investment is complex.
- Evolution can result in populations with either maximal or minimal investment in immune defense.
- Initial conditions significantly influence the evolution of immune strategies.