Genetic control of innate and acquired immunity

Host defense against infection depends on both specific and nonspecific mechanisms.The lines of mice genetically selected for high (H) or low (L) antibody responsiveness and for the maximal (AIR max.) or minimal (AIR min.) acute inflammatory response, in which the opposite extreme potentialities have been clearly defined, ofter an appropriate model for investigation of the major genetic and environmental factors of resistance to infections. The alternative advantagens of the extreme phenotypes such as efficacy of specific and nonspecific immunity in natural populations are discussed.