Medley, Graham (2002) The epidemiological consequences of optimisation of the individual host immune response. Parasitology , Vol.12 (No.7). S61-S70. doi:10.1017/S0031182002002354

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Abstract

We present a simple unscaled, quantitative framework that addresses the optimum use of resources throughout a host's lifetime based on continuous exposure to parasites (rather than evolutionary, genetically explicit trade-offs). The principal assumptions are that a host's investment of resources in growth increases its survival and reproduction, and that increasing parasite burden reduces survival. The host reproductive value is maximised for a given combination of rates of parasite exposure, host resource acquisition and pathogenicity, which results in an optimum parasite burden (for the host). Generally, results indicate that the optimum resource allocation is to tolerate some parasite infection. The lower the resource acquisition, the lower the proportion of resources that should be devoted to immunity, i.e. the higher the optimum parasite burden. Increases in pathogenicity result in reduced optimum parasite burdens, whereas increases in exposure result in increasing optimum parasite burdens. Simultaneous variation in resource acquisition, pathogenicity and exposure within a community of hosts results in overdispersed parasite burdens, with the degree of heterogeneity decreasing as mean burden increases. The relationships between host condition and parasite burden are complicated, and could potentially confound data analysis. Finally, the value of this approach for explaining epidemiological patterns, immunological processes and the possibilities for further work are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Epidemiology -- Research, Immunity -- Nutritional aspects, Epidemiology -- Mathematical models, Resource allocation, Parasitology -- Research
Journal or Publication Title:	Parasitology
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	0031-1820
Official Date:	October 2002
Dates:	Date Event October 2002 Published
Volume:	Vol.12
Number:	No.7
Page Range:	S61-S70
DOI:	10.1017/S0031182002002354
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access

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