Biology subjects

Downie, A. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Downie, A. E..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Genetic and Environmental interactions contribute to immune variation in rewilded mice

The relative and synergistic contributions of genetics and environment to inter-individual immune response variation remain unclear, despite its implications for understanding both evolutionary biology and medicine. Here, we quantify interactive effects of genotype and environment on immune traits by investigating three inbred mouse strains rewilded in an outdoor enclosure and infected with the parasite, Trichuris muris. Whereas cytokine response heterogeneity was primarily driven by genotype, cellular composition heterogeneity was shaped by interactions between genotype and environment. Notably, genetic differences under laboratory conditions can be decreased following rewilding, and variation in T cell markers are more driven by genetics, whereas B cell markers are driven more by environment. Importantly, variation in worm burden is associated with measures of immune variation, as well as genetics and environment. These results indicate that nonheritable influences interact with genetic factors to shape immune variation, with synergistic impacts on the deployment and evolution of defense mechanisms.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Social association predicts immunological similarity in rewilded mice

Environmental influences on immune phenotypes are well-documented, but our understanding of which elements of the environment affect immune systems, and how, remains vague. Behaviors, including socializing with others, are central to an individuals interaction with its environment. We tracked behavior of rewilded laboratory mice of three inbred strains in outdoor enclosures and examined contributions of behavior, including social associations, to immune phenotypes. We found that the more associated two individuals were, the more similar their immune phenotypes were. Social association was particularly predictive of similar memory T and B cell profiles and was more influential than sibling relationships or worm infection status. These results highlight the importance of social networks for immune phenotype and reveal important immunological correlates of social life.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

Optimal immune specificity at the intersection of host life history and parasite epidemiology

Epidemiology and life history are commonly hypothesized to influence host immune strategy, and the pairwise relationships between immune strategy and each factor have been extensively investigated. But the interaction of these two is rarely considered, despite evidence that this interaction might produce emergent effects on optimal immune strategy. Here we investigate the confluence of epidemiology and life history as it affects immune strategy through a demographically-framed model of sensitivity and specificity in parasite recognition and response. We find that variation in several different life history traits associated with both reproduction and longevity alters optimal immune strategies - but the direction and magnitude of these effects depends on how epidemiological risks vary across life. Drawing on published life history data, we also find that our predictions apply across chordate taxa. Our results shed light on the complex interactions shaping immune strategy and may prove valuable in interpreting empirical results in ecoimmunology.

ecology↗