Pathogen evolution and the immunological niche. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cobey, Sarah
• Other Names: Fox Charles W. guestEditor.; Mousseau Timothy A. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1320(2014)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: infectious diseases -- host–pathogen interactions -- phylodynamics -- evolutionary epidemiology -- niche theory -- viruses -- bacteria -- influenza; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12493
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0077-8923

Abstract

Abstract : Host immunity is a major driver of pathogen evolution and thus a major determinant of pathogen diversity. Explanations for pathogen diversity traditionally assume simple interactions between pathogens and the immune system, a view encapsulated by the susceptible–infected–recovered (SIR) model. However, there is growing evidence that the complexity of many host–pathogen interactions is dynamically important. This revised perspective requires broadening the definition of a pathogen's immunological phenotype, or what can be thought of as its immunological niche. After reviewing evidence that interactions between pathogens and host immunity drive much of pathogen evolution, I introduce the concept of a pathogen's immunological phenotype. Models that depart from the SIR paradigm demonstrate the utility of this perspective and show that it is particularly useful in understanding vaccine‐induced evolution. This paper highlights questions in immunology, evolution, and ecology that must be answered to advance theories of pathogen diversity.