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Ecological and evolutionary implications of immunological priming in invertebrates

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Abstract

Invertebrates have an immune response that differs considerably from the acquired immune response found in vertebrates. However, new studies indicate that past experience with a pathogen can provide individual invertebrates, or their descendants, with enhanced immunity. This prophylactic effect, termed immunological priming, is functionally similar to the acquired immune response in vertebrates. This newfound complexity of invertebrate immunity begs investigation into the conditions under which immunological priming should evolve, and its consequences for population dynamics.

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Conclusion

Both vertebrates and invertebrates exhibit immunological priming. The highly sophisticated priming system of vertebrates (i.e. acquired immunity) is well understood both functionally and mechanistically. So far, invertebrate immunological priming is known only from phenomenological studies of whole organisms, and its mechanistic basis is not known. The genes and enzyme cascades of the invertebrate immune system are rapidly being elucidated 17, 18, 19, 20, just not yet for priming effects.

Acknowledgements

We thank Jaap DeRoode, Julia Ferrari, Andrew Read, Bregje Wertheim and three referees for comments on this article.

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