Transmission consequences of coinfection: cytokines writ large?
Coinfection of a host by multiple parasite species is commonly observed and recent epidemiological work indicates that coinfection can enhance parasite transmission. This article proposes an immunoepidemiological framework to understand how within-host interactions during coinfection might affect between-host transmission. Cytokines, immune signalling molecules with a fundamental role in the amplification of antiparasitic effector mechanisms, provide a useful way to simplify immunological complexity for this endeavour--focusing on cytokines offers analytical tractability without sacrificing realism. Testable predictions about the epidemiological consequences of coinfection are generated by this conceptual framework.
Graham
Andrea L
AL
Institutes of Evolution, Immunology & Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. andrea.graham@ed.ac.uk
Cattadori
Isabella M
IM
Lloyd-Smith
James O
JO
Ferrari
Matthew J
MJ
Bjørnstad
Ottar N
ON
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D010271:Parasites / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D014774:Virulence
D016207:Cytokines