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Optimal immune responses : immunocompetence revisited
journal contribution
posted on 2005-12-01, 00:00 authored by M Viney, E Riley, Kate BuchananKate BuchananThe 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.
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Journal
Trends in ecology and evolutionVolume
20Issue
12Pagination
665 - 669Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.Location
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
ISSN
0169-5347eISSN
1872-8383Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2005, Elsevier LtdUsage metrics
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