The natural history of defences

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198832140.003.0004 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 51-108

Author(s):

Paul Schmid-Hempel

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Natural History ◽

Adaptive Immunity ◽

Immune Memory ◽

History Of ◽

Molecular Backbone ◽

Somatic Diversification ◽

Signalling Compounds ◽

Immune Defences ◽

Signalling Cascade

Hosts can avoid infections by behavioural changes and by body walls. After infection, hosts can change their behaviours to reduce the effects of parasitism. Immune defences have different arms (humoral or cellular), and organization (innate, adaptive). Innate immunity consists of a collection of different systems that are evolutionarily very old. Adaptive immunity, based on expansion of specific lymphocytes, evolved in the higher vertebrates. Immune defences are regulated tightly and based on receptors that can recognize parasites (or their activity). This triggers a complex signalling cascade that results in the production of further signalling compounds and effectors. Important protein families, e.g. the immunoglobulins, form the molecular backbone. A key to efficient defences is the diversification of receptors, such as the highly evolved somatic diversification processes of advanced adaptive immunity. The microbiota adds to defences in many ways. Immune memory and priming occur throughout the tree of life.

Download Full-text

Adaptive innate immunity or innate adaptive immunity?

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20180548 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 133 (14) ◽

pp. 1549-1565 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jan Černý ◽

Ilja Stříž

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Adaptive Immunity ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Cell Receptor ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Lymphoid Cells ◽

Immune Memory ◽

Cytotoxic Lymphocytes ◽

Black And White ◽

Pathogen Invasion

Abstract The innate immunity is frequently accepted as a first line of relatively primitive defense interfering with the pathogen invasion until the mechanisms of ‘privileged’ adaptive immunity with the production of antibodies and activation of cytotoxic lymphocytes ‘steal the show’. Recent advancements on the molecular and cellular levels have shaken the traditional view of adaptive and innate immunity. The innate immune memory or ‘trained immunity’ based on metabolic changes and epigenetic reprogramming is a complementary process insuring adaptation of host defense to previous infections. Innate immune cells are able to recognize large number of pathogen- or danger- associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs) to behave in a highly specific manner and regulate adaptive immune responses. Innate lymphoid cells (ILC1, ILC2, ILC3) and NK cells express transcription factors and cytokines related to subsets of T helper cells (Th1, Th2, Th17). On the other hand, T and B lymphocytes exhibit functional properties traditionally attributed to innate immunity such as phagocytosis or production of tissue remodeling growth factors. They are also able to benefit from the information provided by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), e.g. γδT lymphocytes use T-cell receptor (TCR) in a manner close to PRR recognition. Innate B cells represent another example of limited combinational diversity usage participating in various innate responses. In the view of current knowledge, the traditional black and white classification of immune mechanisms as either innate or an adaptive needs to be adjusted and many shades of gray need to be included.

Download Full-text

How is the moral stance related to the intentional stance and group thinking?

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19002413 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Hannes Rakoczy

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Intentional Stance ◽

Cognitive Capacities ◽

Shared Intentionality ◽

History Of ◽

Group Thinking ◽

Moral Stance

Abstract The natural history of our moral stance told here in this commentary reveals the close nexus of morality and basic social-cognitive capacities. Big mysteries about morality thus transform into smaller and more manageable ones. Here, I raise questions regarding the conceptual, ontogenetic, and evolutionary relations of the moral stance to the intentional and group stances and to shared intentionality.

Download Full-text