Immigration control in the vertebrate body with special reference to chimerism.
The phenomenon of chimerism is reviewed against an understanding of adaptive immunity in vertebrates. It is shown that chimerism can be regarded as a ubiquitous condition and this suggests that monophylesis has played little part in evolution. It is suggested that the adaptive immune response has a special role in facilitating the development of chimerism and that the consensus view of adaptive immunity as a rejection mechanism should be revised.
London University, UK. tony.davies@blueyonder.co.uk
Anthony J S
AJ
Davies
D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D046528:Chimerism; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000276:immunology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000276:immunology*