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Why do insects evolve immune priming? A search for crossroads
Arun Prakash,
Published in Elsevier Ltd
2022
PMID: 34453994
Volume: 126
   
Abstract
Until recently, it was assumed that insects lack immune memory since they do not have vertebrate-like specialized memory cells. Therefore, their most well studied evolutionary response against pathogens was increased basal immunity. However, growing evidence suggests that many insects also exhibit a form of immune memory (immune priming), where prior exposure to a low dose of infection confers protection against subsequent infection by the same pathogen that acts both within and across generations. Most strikingly, they can rapidly evolve as a highly parallel and mutually exclusive strategy from basal immunity, under different selective conditions and with divergent evolutionary trade-offs. However, the relative importance of priming as an optimal immune strategy also has contradictions, primarily because supporting mechanisms are still unclear. In this review, we adopt a comparative approach to highlight several emerging evolutionary, ecological and mechanistic features of priming vs basal immune responses that warrant immediate attention for future research.
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetDevelopmental and Comparative Immunology
PublisherData powered by TypesetElsevier Ltd
ISSN18790089
Open AccessNo