The evolutionary dynamics of timing of maternal immunity: evaluating the role of age-specific mortality.

ABSTRACT: If a female survives an infection, she can transfer antibodies against that particular pathogen to any future offspring she produces. The resulting protection of offspring for a period after their birth is termed maternal immunity. Because infection in newborns is associated with high mortality, the duration of this protection is expected to be under strong selection. Evolutionary modelling structured around a trade-off between fertility and duration of maternal immunity has indicated selection for longer duration of maternal immunity for hosts with longer lifespans. Here, we use a new modelling framework to extend this analysis to consider characteristics of pathogens (and hosts) in further detail. Importantly, given the challenges in characterizing trade-offs linked to immune function em

SUBMITTER: Metcalf CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6776077 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature