Invited Speaker  D21SY28IT17:45R9

Epidemiological and evolutionary implications of immune priming

Author(s): Boots M

Summary:

The body of empirical evidence for immune priming in invertebrates is growing. To highlight this, here, I will give an example of within and transgenerational priming in an insect to challenge by a natural DNA virus. Given this widespread phenomena and the fact that priming, defined here as immunity following challenge to a pathogen, contrasts epidemiologically with acquired immunity which occurs after recovery from an infectious state, it is important to model the implications of priming. Defined in this way priming can also be a characteristic of vertebrate immunity. Here I will describe the epidemiological and evolutionary characteristics of a SPI (susceptible:primed:infectious) model as distinct from the SIR (susceptible:infected:recovered/removed) model of acquired immunity. The models highlight the potential importance of priming to the epidemiology and evolution of host parasite interactions.