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Title: The Promise of a Pointillist Perspective for Comparative Immunology
Most studies in comparative immunology involve investigations into the detailed mechanisms of the immune system of a nonmodel organism. Although this approach has been insightful, it has promoted a deep understanding of only a handful of species, thus inhibiting the recognition of broad taxonomic patterns. Here, we call for investigating the immune defenses of numerous species within a pointillist framework, that is, the meticulous, targeted collection of data from dozens of species and investigation of broad patterns of organismal, ecological, and evolutionary forces shaping those patterns. Without understanding basic immunological patterns across species, we are limited in our ability to extrapolate and/or translate our findings to other organisms, including humans. We illustrate this point by focusing predominantly on the biological scaling literature with some integrations of the pace of life literature, as these perspectives have been the most developed within this framework. We also highlight how the more traditional approach in comparative immunology works synergistically with a pointillist approach, with each approach feeding back into the other. We conclude that the pointillist approach promises to illuminate comprehensive theories about the immune system and enhance predictions in a wide variety of domains, including host-parasite dynamics and disease ecology.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2342509
PAR ID:
10595391
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Publisher / Repository:
Int. Union Physiol. Sci./Am. Physiol. Soc.
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physiology
Edition / Version:
1
Volume:
39
Issue:
6
ISSN:
1548-9213
Page Range / eLocation ID:
386 to 400
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
allometry comparative immunology immune defense pace of life scaling
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: 2324 kb Other: pdf
Size(s):
2324 kb
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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