Biological Inspiration for Artificial Immune Systems

TL;DR

This paper advocates for designing artificial immune systems inspired by innate immune mechanisms in organisms and systemic models of immunity to enhance their biological realism and effectiveness.

Contribution

It introduces two novel approaches for AIS design: focusing on innate immunity and employing systemic immune models, advancing beyond naive biological metaphors.

Findings

Innate immune systems offer a promising basis for AIS design.

Systemic models can structure AIS for improved performance.

Biologically realistic AIS could enhance robustness and adaptability.

Abstract

Artificial immune systems (AISs) to date have generally been inspired by naive biological metaphors. This has limited the effectiveness of these systems. In this position paper two ways in which AISs could be made more biologically realistic are discussed. We propose that AISs should draw their inspiration from organisms which possess only innate immune systems, and that AISs should employ systemic models of the immune system to structure their overall design. An outline of plant and invertebrate immune systems is presented, and a number of contemporary research that more biologically-realistic AISs could have is also discussed.