Taxonomic variation in immune response strategies among primates

Abstract

In primates, mechanisms of both innate and adaptive immunity are well-studied in just a few species out of this very diverse taxonomic order, especially in relation to specific pathogens like SIV. Recent research has indicated there may be taxon-specific differences across primates in immune response strategies, including relative proportions of immune cell types and whether adaptive or innate responses are favored. It remains unclear which taxonomic level best explains variation in primate immune response strategies. Identifying this is important for understanding when and why these differences evolved. This review synthesizes major recent findings in primate immunology, to connect them to more generalized research on immune response strategies and present hypotheses for future research, focusing on major methodologies in the field. We demonstrate that gaining a better understanding of the evolution of primate immunity has far-reaching implications for our understanding of the evolutionary past of humans, and for present-day global health.