Immunology and Evolution of Infectious Disease

by Steven A. Frank

Overview

From HIV to influenza, the battle between infectious agents and the immune system is at the heart of disease. Knowledge of how and why parasites vary to escape recognition by the immune system is central to vaccine design, the control of epidemics, and our fundamental understanding of parasite ecology and evolution. As the first comprehensive synthesis of parasite variation at the molecular, population, and evolutionary levels, this book is essential reading for students and researchers throughout biology and biomedicine.

The author uses an evolutionary perspective to meld the terms and findings of molecular biology, immunology, pathogen biology, and population dynamics. This multidisciplinary approach offers newcomers a readable introduction while giving specialists an invaluable guide to allied subjects. Every aspect of the immune response is presented in the functional context of parasite recognition and defense--an emphasis that gives structure to a tremendous amount of data and brings into sharp focus the great complexity of immunology. The problems that end each chapter set the challenge for future research, and the text includes extensive discussion of HIV, influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and many other pathogens.

This is the only book that treats in an integrated way all factors affecting variation in infectious disease. It is a superb teaching tool and a rich source of ideas for new and experienced researchers. For molecular biologists, immunologists, and evolutionary biologists, this book provides new insight into infectious agents, immunity, and the evolution of infectious disease.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691220161
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	360
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Steven A. Frank is Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of Foundations of Social Evolution (Princeton).

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xi
1	Introduction	3
Part I	Background
2	Vertebrate Immunity	13
2.1	Nonspecific Immunity	14
2.2	Specific Immunity: Antigens and Epitopes	15
2.3	B Cells and Antibodies	16
2.4	T Cells and MHC	19
2.5	Summary	20
3	Benefits of Antigenic Variation	22
3.1	Extend Length of Infection	23
3.2	Infect Hosts with Prior Exposure	24
3.3	Infect Hosts with Genetically Variable Resistance	26
3.4	Vary Attachment Characters	26
3.5	Antigenic Interference	28
3.6	Problems for Future Research	29
Part II	Molecular Processes
4	Specificity and Cross-Reactivity	33
4.1	Antigens and Antibody Epitopes	35
4.2	Antibody Paratopes	36
4.3	Antibody Affinity Maturation	38
4.4	Natural Antibodies--Low-Affinity Binding to Diverse Antigens	39
4.5	Affinity versus Specificity	40
4.6	Cross-Reaction of Polyclonal Antibodies to Divergent Antigens	42
4.7	T Cell Epitopes	44
4.8	Every Host Differs	52
4.9	Problems for Future Research	54
5	Generative Mechanisms	57
5.1	Mutation and Hypermutation	58
5.2	Stochastic Switching between Archival Copies	61
5.3	New Variants by Intragenomic Recombination	66
5.4	Mixing between Genomes	67
5.5	Problems for Future Research	68
Part III	Individual Interactions
6	Immunodominance within Hosts	73
6.1	Antibody Immunodominance	74
6.2	CTL Immunodominance	79
6.3	Sequence of Exposure to Antigens: Original Antigenic Sin	87
6.4	Problems for Future Research	89
7	Parasite Escape within Hosts	93
7.1	Natural Selection of Antigenic Variants	94
7.2	Pathogen Manipulation of Host Immune Dynamics	97
7.3	Sequence of Variants in Active Switching from Archives	98
7.4	Ecological Coexistence of Variants within a Host	102
7.5	Problems for Future Research	106
Part IV	Population Consequences
8	Genetic Variability of Hosts	111
8.1	Polymorphisms in Specificity	112
8.2	Polymorphisms in Immune Regulation	115
8.3	Problems for Future Research	121
9	Immunological Variability of Hosts	124
9.1	Immunological Memory	125
9.2	Kinds of Parasites	129
9.3	Immunodominance of Memory	132
9.4	Cross-Reactivity and Interference	135
9.5	Distribution of Immune Profiles among Hosts	136
9.6	Problems for Future Research	144
10	Genetic Structure of Parasite Populations	148
10.1	Kinds of Genetic Structure	149
10.2	Pattern and Process	151
10.3	Genome-wide Linkage Disequilibrium	153
10.4	Antigenic Linkage Disequilibrium	164
10.5	Population Structure: Hosts as Islands	166
10.6	Problems for Future Research	168
Part V	Studying Evolution
11	Classifications by Antigenicity and Phylogeny	175
11.1	Immunological Measures of Antigenicity	176
11.2	Phylogeny	178
11.3	Hypothetical Relations between Immunology and Phylogeny	179
11.4	Immunology Matches Phylogeny over Long Genetic Distances	181
11.5	Immunology-Phylogeny Mismatch with Radiations into New Hosts	181
11.6	Short-Term Phylogenetic Diversification Driven by Immunological Selection	183
11.7	Discordant Patterns of Phylogeny and Antigenicity Created by Within-Host Immune Pressure	183
11.8	Problems for Future Research	186
12	Experimental Evolution: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus	188
12.1	Overview of Antigenicity and Structure	189
12.2	Antibody Escape Mutants	192
12.3	Cell Binding and Tropism	196
12.4	Fitness Consequences of Substitutions	200
12.5	Problems for Future Research	202
13	Experimental Evolution: Influenza	205
13.1	Overview of Antigenicity and Structure	206
13.2	Antibody Escape Mutants	214
13.3	Cell Binding and Tropism	216
13.4	Fitness Consequences of Substitutions	218
13.5	Experimental Evolution of Other Pathogens	224
13.6	Problems for Future Research	227
14	Experimental Evolution: CTL Escape	230
14.1	Cleavage and Transport of Peptides	231
14.2	MHC Binding	232
14.3	TCR Binding	237
14.4	Functional Consequences of Escape	239
14.5	Kinetics of Escape	240
14.6	Problems for Future Research	243
15	Measuring Selection with Population Samples	246
15.1	Kinds of Natural Selection	247
15.2	Positive Selection to Avoid Host Recognition	249
15.3	Phylogenetic Analysis of Nucleotide Substitutions	251
15.4	Predicting Evolution	255
15.5	Problems for Future Research	260
16	Recap of Some Interesting Problems	265
16.1	Population-Level Explanation for Low Molecular Variability	265
16.2	Molecular-Level Explanation for Population Dynamics	266
16.3	Binding Kinetics and the Dynamics of Immunodominance	266
16.4	Diversity and Regulation of Archival Repertoires	267
16.5	Final Note	268
	References	269
	Author Index	313
	Subject Index	337

What People are Saying About This

Weiss

Steven Frank provides us with a profound insight into the Darwinian evolutionary dynamics between parasite and host, told from an immunological slant. It is essential reading to understand why infections cause disease.
— Robin A. Weiss, Fellow of the Royal Society, Wohl Virion Centre, University College London

Roy Anderson

This book is a real gem. Very readable, it is a teaching and research text that will be widely adopted at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It will also provide a wonderful source of ideas for researchers working on infectious diseases, population ecology, and evolutionary biology.
— Roy Anderson, Fellow of the Royal Society, Imperial College, London

From the Publisher

"Steven Frank provides us with a profound insight into the Darwinian evolutionary dynamics between parasite and host, told from an immunological slant. It is essential reading to understand why infections cause disease."—Robin A. Weiss, Fellow of the Royal Society, Wohl Virion Centre, University College London

"This book is a real gem. Very readable, it is a teaching and research text that will be widely adopted at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It will also provide a wonderful source of ideas for researchers working on infectious diseases, population ecology, and evolutionary biology."—Roy Anderson, Fellow of the Royal Society, Imperial College, London

"This is an extremely stimulating and hugely ambitious book. It distils key essentials from the ever increasing avalanche of largely undigested molecular and immunological data to answer important questions about the natural history of antigenic variation in an evolutionary context. Frank gives us the missing part of the field: what it all means. His synthesis cuts across large areas of modern biology and is just the sort of thing the field needs."—Andrew Read, University of Edinburgh

Andrew Read

This is an extremely stimulating and hugely ambitious book. It distils key essentials from the ever increasing avalanche of largely undigested molecular and immunological data to answer important questions about the natural history of antigenic variation in an evolutionary context. Frank gives us the missing part of the field: what it all means. His synthesis cuts across large areas of modern biology and is just the sort of thing the field needs.
— Andrew Read, University of Edinburgh

Editorial Reviews

"[This] is a rich source of ideas for scientists working in immunology and molecular biology as well as evolution. . . . Newcomers are offered a comprehensive introduction to basic questions of immunology, as well as a synthesis that cuts across large areas of biology. Specialists will find detailed discussions of specific infectious agents from a highly original, evolutionary perspective, and inspiration for future research."—-Franziska Michor and Martin A. Nowak, Nature

"Frank's book, short and clearly written, can be read through with ease, and it will serve as an excellent introduction to infectious disease dynamics for final-year undergraduates and research students, and for those who attempt to bridge the gulf between mathematics and biology. It will be particularly useful as a stimulus for new research. . . . [F]or an integrated and digestible account of the role of antigenic variation in the immunology and evolution of microparasites, this book has few rivals, and is highly recommended."—-Charles R. M. Bangham, Trends in Ecology and Evolution

"This is the first volume to comprehensively survey the integration of evolution, epidemiology, ecology, genetics, and immunology of pathogen and host population. As such, it is a valuable resource for both students and researchers."—-Allison P. Galvani, Quarterly Review of Biology

"This book is definitely worth reading. Frank provides a thought-provoking and timely agenda of research questions in evolutionary immunology and parasitology that will undoubtedly stay relevant for many years to come."—-Paul Schmid-Hempel, Science

"This book should be read by anyone interested in the evolution of infectious disease, as well as by those interested in molecular evolution or in experimental evolution. . . . It will appeal broadly."—-J.J. Bull and Dieter Ebert, Evolution

"A valuable resource for both students and researchers. . . . This stimulating book makes an important contribution by bridging the gap between immunology and epidemiology."—-Alison P. Galvani, Quarterly Review of Biology

From the Publisher

A valuable resource for both students and researchers. . . . This stimulating book makes an important contribution by bridging the gap between immunology and epidemiology.

Quarterly Review of Biology - Alison P. Galvani

This book should be read by anyone interested in the evolution of infectious disease, as well as by those interested in molecular evolution or in experimental evolution. . . . It will appeal broadly.

Evolution - J.J. Bull and Dieter Ebert

This book is definitely worth reading. Frank provides a thought-provoking and timely agenda of research questions in evolutionary immunology and parasitology that will undoubtedly stay relevant for many years to come.

Science - Paul Schmid-Hempel

This is the first volume to comprehensively survey the integration of evolution, epidemiology, ecology, genetics, and immunology of pathogen and host population. As such, it is a valuable resource for both students and researchers.

Quarterly Review of Biology - Allison P. Galvani

Frank's book, short and clearly written, can be read through with ease, and it will serve as an excellent introduction to infectious disease dynamics for final-year undergraduates and research students, and for those who attempt to bridge the gulf between mathematics and biology. It will be particularly useful as a stimulus for new research. . . . [F]or an integrated and digestible account of the role of antigenic variation in the immunology and evolution of microparasites, this book has few rivals, and is highly recommended.

Trends in Ecology and Evolution - Charles R. M. Bangham

[This] is a rich source of ideas for scientists working in immunology and molecular biology as well as evolution. . . . Newcomers are offered a comprehensive introduction to basic questions of immunology, as well as a synthesis that cuts across large areas of biology. Specialists will find detailed discussions of specific infectious agents from a highly original, evolutionary perspective, and inspiration for future research.

Nature - Franziska Michor and Martin A. Nowak

Frank's book, short and clearly written, can be read through with ease, and it will serve as an excellent introduction to infectious disease dynamics for final-year undergraduates and research students, and for those who attempt to bridge the gulf between mathematics and biology. It will be particularly useful as a stimulus for new research. . . . [F]or an integrated and digestible account of the role of antigenic variation in the immunology and evolution of microparasites, this book has few rivals, and is highly recommended.

Trends in Ecology and Evolution - Charles R.M. Bangham

This book should be read by anyone interested in the evolution of infectious disease, as well as by those interested in molecular evolution or in experimental evolution. . . . It will appeal broadly.
— J.J. Bull and Dieter Ebert

Evolution

This book is definitely worth reading. Frank provides a thought-provoking and timely agenda of research questions in evolutionary immunology and parasitology that will undoubtedly stay relevant for many years to come.
— Paul Schmid-Hempel

Science

A valuable resource for both students and researchers. . . . This stimulating book makes an important contribution by bridging the gap between immunology and epidemiology.
— Alison P. Galvani

Quarterly Review of Biology

Frank's book, short and clearly written, can be read through with ease, and it will serve as an excellent introduction to infectious disease dynamics for final-year undergraduates and research students, and for those who attempt to bridge the gulf between mathematics and biology. It will be particularly useful as a stimulus for new research. . . . [F]or an integrated and digestible account of the role of antigenic variation in the immunology and evolution of microparasites, this book has few rivals, and is highly recommended.
— Charles R. M. Bangham

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

[This] is a rich source of ideas for scientists working in immunology and molecular biology as well as evolution. . . . Newcomers are offered a comprehensive introduction to basic questions of immunology, as well as a synthesis that cuts across large areas of biology. Specialists will find detailed discussions of specific infectious agents from a highly original, evolutionary perspective, and inspiration for future research.
— Franziska Michor and Martin A. Nowak

Nature

Frank's book, short and clearly written, can be read through with ease, and it will serve as an excellent introduction to infectious disease dynamics for final-year undergraduates and research students, and for those who attempt to bridge the gulf between mathematics and biology. It will be particularly useful as a stimulus for new research. . . . [F]or an integrated and digestible account of the role of antigenic variation in the immunology and evolution of microparasites, this book has few rivals, and is highly recommended.
— Charles R. M. Bangham

Trends in Ecology and Evolution