英国爱丁堡大学H. Froy课题组的研究认为，野生哺乳动物对寄生虫免疫的衰老预示着成年后动物的死亡率。 2019年9月20日，《科学》发表了这一成果。

研究人员发现野生Soay绵羊对蠕虫寄生虫抗性的重要免疫标记物晚期的下降预示了绵羊的越冬死亡率。 研究发现循环抗体水平的衰退与抵抗高度流行的线虫有关，这关系着成体存活概率的降低，而与体重变化无关。 这些发现确立了免疫衰老在自然群体生态学和进化中的作用。

研究人员表示，人们对老年人免疫功能衰退的认识主要来自对现代人群和实验室动物的研究。 对于经历复杂、自然感染和环境挑战的系统而言，这一过程的普遍性和重要性尚不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Senescence in immunity against helminth parasites predicts adult mortality in a wild mammal

Author: H. Froy, A. M. Sparks, K. Watt, R. Sinclair, F. Bach, J. G. Pilkington, J. M. Pemberton, T. N. McNeilly, D. H. Nussey

Issue&Volume: Volume 365 Issue 6459

Abstract: 

Our understanding of the deterioration in immune function in old age—immunosenescence—derives principally from studies of modern human populations and laboratory animals. The generality and significance of this process for systems experiencing complex, natural infections and environmental challenges are unknown. Here, we show that late-life declines in an important immune marker of resistance to helminth parasites in wild Soay sheep predict overwinter mortality. We found senescence in circulating antibody levels against a highly prevalent nematode worm, which was associated with reduced adult survival probability, independent of changes in body weight. These findings establish a role for immunosenescence in the ecology and evolution of natural populations.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw5822

Source:https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6459/1296