Recognition and function in a degenerate immune system.
Degeneracy in the immune system not only refers to the recognition by its specific receptors, but also at the level of functional degeneracy of reactivity by its lymphocytes. Features of the immune system such as dominance and competition occur at each of these two levels. Another characteristic of the immune system as a fuzzy system, is its continuum of states, where difficult choices lead to the emergence of unpredictable phenotypes.
Sercarz
Eli E
EE
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. esercarz@tpims.org
Maverakis
Emanual
E
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D011946:Receptors, Antigen