Skip Navigation



Integrative and Comparative Biology Advance Access published online on October 26, 2006
Integrative and Comparative Biology, doi:10.1093/icb/icl050
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (Rapid PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
46/6/1060    most recent
icl050v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lutton, B.
Right arrow Articles by Callard, I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Ecological Immunology: Recent Advances and Applications for Conservation and Public Health

Evolution of reproductive-immune interactions

Bram Lutton 1 * and Ian Callard 1
1 Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Bram Lutton, E-mail: bram{at}bu.edu


  Abstract

Synopsis The comparative approach in biological sciences has provided valuable insights into the role of different organ systems in adaptation and evolution, and seeks to establish unifying themes. This approach also plays a key role in identifying model species and systems for the study of specific questions and problems. Further, by applying the concept of homology, information about nonmammalian species may be used either to directly understand mammalian/human regulatory processes, or to formulate hypotheses for direct testing. Individual physiological systems function in a milieu provided by the integrated activities of all of the systems to adapt, adjust and sustain the organism in its environment. The overlapping interfaces between the different physiological systems provide fertile ground for new insights and to enhance our knowledge. These interdisciplinary areas are of great importance if we are to understand the full complexity of organismal function. Of particular interest are the interactions between the reproductive system and the immune system. The reproductive system is unique in that its primary role is to assure the continuity of the species, while the immune system provides internal protection and thus facilitates continued health and survival. The modus operandi of these 2 morphologically diffuse systems involves widely distributed chemical signals in response to environmental input, and both systems must interact for the normal functioning of each. While the major focus of reproductive-immune research has historically been with mammals, and has provided substantial insight into the interactions between these physiological systems, comparative studies offer unique perspectives. Further, dysregulation of normal physiological interactions between the reproductive and immune systems can lead to disorders and diseases effecting one system or the other. Thus, comparative studies of these interactions may shed some light upon the evolutionary mechanisms involved in such cases.

From the symposium "Ecological Immunology: Recent Advances and Applications for Conservation and Public Health" presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, January 4-8, 2006, at Orlando, Florida.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.