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The epidemiological consequences of optimisation of the individual host immune response

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Medley, Graham. (2002) The epidemiological consequences of optimisation of the individual host immune response. Parasitology , Vol.12 (No.7). S61-S70. ISSN 0031-1820

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182002002354

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

Identification Number:

10.1017/S0031182002002354

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

References:

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