title: Why did the acquired immune system of vertebrates evolve?
abstract: Rapidly expanding genomic information offers important insights into the mechanisms of acquired immunity and has fostered progress in comparative immunology. However, the question of why the acquired immune system, a trait restricted to jawed vertebrates, evolved has rarely been addressed. Here, I will examine three unique features of early vertebrate evolution, during the 50 million years when the acquired immune system evolved: co-evolution with specialised parasites, increased metabolic rates and genomic instability. These combine to shape a powerful multi-level and multi-causal selective scenario that I propose could have moulded the acquired immune system.
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, UK. jor@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rolff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication; D006196:Hagfishes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007798:Lampreys / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010986:Platyhelminths / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*