Animal Defenses Against Infectious Agents: Is Damage Control More Important Than Pathogen Control?
2008
Animal Defenses Against Infections: Damage Control vs. Pathogen Control
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Andrew F. Read, Andrea L. Graham, Lars Råberg
Primary Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Hypothesis
Is damage control more important than pathogen control in animal defenses against infections?
Conclusion
The study suggests that tolerance mechanisms may be more prevalent and evolutionarily advantageous than resistance mechanisms in animal defenses against infections.
Supporting Evidence
- Tolerance mechanisms may be more common in evolution than resistance mechanisms.
- The study indicates that a single gene can influence both resistance and tolerance depending on the pathogen.
- Understanding tolerance can help improve health interventions that are less likely to fail against evolving pathogens.
Takeaway
Animals can either fight off germs or try to heal from the damage they cause. This study shows that healing might be more important than just fighting the germs.
Limitations
The study highlights the need for more research to clearly measure tolerance and resistance in animal health.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website