Modelling Immunological Memory

TL;DR

This paper compares and validates various computational models of immunological memory, demonstrating the utility of in silico simulations for understanding immune phenomena and evaluating theories against in vivo data.

Contribution

The authors introduce and validate a new immunological memory model within an experimental simulator, comparing it with existing theories and in vivo measurements.

Findings

Validated an immunological simulator against known theories

Evaluated a novel immunological memory theory using the model

Found the new model aligns with in vivo data, supporting its validity

Abstract

Accurate immunological models offer the possibility of performing highthroughput experiments in silico that can predict, or at least suggest, in vivo phenomena. In this chapter, we compare various models of immunological memory. We first validate an experimental immunological simulator, developed by the authors, by simulating several theories of immunological memory with known results. We then use the same system to evaluate the predicted effects of a theory of immunological memory. The resulting model has not been explored before in artificial immune systems research, and we compare the simulated in silico output with in vivo measurements. Although the theory appears valid, we suggest that there are a common set of reasons why immunological memory models are a useful support tool; not conclusive in themselves.