The next generation of immunity-based systems: From specific recognition to computational intelligence

Abstract

The post-genome era proved that DNA sequence data [11, 26] with structural and functional analysis on genes archived in many data bases can support in developing new bio-engineering technologies and can drive systemic views for biological systems. However, the post-genome era also proved that sequence data alone is not sufficient, but revealed that higher knowledge of the function of proteins is indispensable. Personalized medicine required not only sequence data, but further knowledge such as SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) and of functioning of proteins and its deployment to interacting systems such as gene networks, giving birth of a new territory called proteome. This Chapter is organized as follows: Sect. 2 focuses on the preliminary problem of whether recognition is indeed needed, focusing on the specific task of abnormal state eradication on a simple network. Section 3 addresses the problem of networked recognition that involve action counterpart, hence agents can not only recognize but also be recognized. Section 4 further introduces adaptation by assuming agents can not only reproduce but also mutate in the receptor counterpart. Section 5 considers arrayed recognition, which is the very first step, even before networked recognition; however, it assumes specific recognition capability of antibody-antigen recognition. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.