The swarming body: Simulating the decentralized defenses of immunity

Abstract

We consider the human body as a well-orchestrated system of interacting swarms. Utilizing swarm intelligence techniques, we present, our latest; virtual simulation and experimentation environment. IMMS:VIGO::3D, to explore key aspects of the human immune system. Immune system cells and related entities (viruses, bacteria, cytokines) are represented as virtual agents inside 3-dimensional, decentralized and compartmentalized environments that represent primary and secondary lymphoid organs as well as vascular and lymphatic vessels. Specific immune system responses emerge as by-products from collective interactions among the involved simulated 'agents' and their environment. We demonstrate simulation results for clonal selection and primary and secondary collective responses after viral infection, as well as the key response patterns encountered during bacterial infection. We see this simulation environment as an essential step towards a hierarchical whole-body simulation of the immune system, both for educational and research purposes. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.