This book shows how mathematical and computational approaches can be useful to help us understand how killer T-cell responses work to fight viral infections. It also demonstrates that such mathematical and computational approaches are most valuable when coupled with experimental work through collaborations. The interdisciplinary spirit of the research and analysis is reflected in the writing style of the book. While the topic of the book is mathematical modeling, the text is written in such a way that experimental immunologists and virologists without extensive computational background will be able to understand the arguments, and to see the biological implications of theory. The book covers a broad variety of topics, including both basic immunological questions and the application of these insights to the understanding and treatment of pathogenic human diseases.

Prominent area of research in the biomedical community Review of mathematical and computational approaches used to help understand how killer T cell responses work to fight viral infections Chapter summaries Chapter applications Large amount of graphics

Klappentext

This book reviews how mathematics can be used in combination with biological data in order to improve understanding of how the immune system works. This is illustrated largely in the context of viral infections. Mathematical models allow scientists to capture complex biological interactions in a clear mathematical language and to follow them to their precise logical conclusions. This can give rise to counter-intuitive insights which would not be attained by experiments alone, and can be used for the design of further experiments in order to address the mathematical results.

This book provides both an introduction to the field of mathematical immunology, and an overview of many topics which are the subject of current research, covering a broad variety of immunological topics. It starts with basic principles of immunology and covers the dynamical interactions between the immune system and specific viral infections, including important human pathogens such as HIV. General biological and mathematical background material to both virus infection and immune system dynamics is provided, and each chapter begins with a simple introduction to the biological questions examined.

This book is intended for an interdisciplinary audience. It explains the concept of mathematical modeling in immunology and shows how modeling has been used to address specific questions. It is intended both for the mathematical biologists who are interested in immunology, and for the biological readership that is interested in the use of mathematical models in immunology. Dominik Wodarz is an Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine.

Inhalt
Viruses and Immune Responses: A Dynamical View.- Models of CTL Responses and Correlates of Virus Control.- CTL Memory.- CD4 T Cell Help.- Immunodominance.- Multiple Infections and CTL Dynamics.- Control versus CTL-Induced Pathology.- Lytic versus Nonlytic Activity.- Dynamical Interactions between CTL and Antibody Responses.- Effector Molecules and CTL Homeostasis.- Virus-Induced Subversion of CTL Responses.- Boosting Immunity against Immunosuppressive Infections.- Evolutionary Aspects of Immunity.