Epidemic Slideshow

1. Bach 2002 NEJM

2. Why do adaptive systems require
stumulus to stay “in shape”?

3. Skin tone correlates with latitude. Our genes anticipate a certain amount of
UV light depending on the latitude of our recent evoluationary past. The
same holds for our immune system, although the gradient is much less
pronounced. We expect certain inputs.

4. St. Kilda’s wild sheep: Autoimmune
tendencies improve survival
Graham et al. 2010 Science

5. FcgammaRIIB and autoimmunity
Smith et al. Nature Rev Immun 2010

6. IgE – the allergic antibody, the more
you’ve got, the less allergic you are??
Yellow = Americans – very allergic
Green = Shuar, semi nomadic Ecuadorian/Peruvian tribe – not allergic
Blue = Tsimane, Bolivian Amazonian horticulturalist -- not allergic
Blackwell 2010 Plos Neg Trop Disease

7. Rural Africa resembles the
neolithic
De Filippo PNAS 2010

8. The microbiota in modernity
vs in permodernity
Burkina Faso Florence, Italy
De Filippo PNAS 2010

9. Autoimmunity is natural
Autoreactive cells are
naturally occurring.
They have a function.
They’re usually kept in
check by Tregs.
Unless something goes
wrong with the Tregs.
The lesson:
autoimmunity results
from an imbalance in
regulatory and effector
– of yang and yin

10. The problem is with immune
regulation. We need more!

11. Hookworm: Necator Americanus –
“The American Murderer”

12. The privy problem
Bad Privy Good privy

13. Hookworm disease: Two brothers, one has heavy
infection, one has light. And one has shoes.