Using in silico models to predict lymphocyte activation and development in a data rich era

Abstract

It has become a routine to get insights into the multi-scale nature of immune response in health and disease through ‘omics datasets. This presents us with a unique opportunity to leverage our access to such data to develop computational models that can generate usable predictions and mechanistic insights capable of seeding new ideas. However, this is a particularly challenging task due to the difficulty in integrating data and processes across multiple scales. In this review we discuss some of the challenges associated with this task and also the recent advances and opportunities that will help to makes these tractable, using the innate lymphocyte, the natural killer cell as an exemplar.