Immunocomputing
Encyclopedia
Immunocomputing explores the principles of information processing
that proteins and immune networks utilize in order to solve specific complex problems while protected from viruses, noise, errors and intrusions.
It intends to establish:
The main difference with other kinds of computing lay on the function of its basic element, the formal protein, defined according with its biological prototype and its mathematical model
.
The main biophysical issues
considered in immunocomputing are:
Formal immune networks (FINs) have as closest model the idiotypic network of N. Jerne
but they consider specific mechanisms of interactions between proteins
. FINs are able to learn, recognize and solve problems.
Information processing
Information processing is the change of information in any manner detectable by an observer. As such, it is a process which describes everything which happens in the universe, from the falling of a rock to the printing of a text file from a digital computer system...
that proteins and immune networks utilize in order to solve specific complex problems while protected from viruses, noise, errors and intrusions.
It intends to establish:
- A proper mathematical framework
- A new kind of computingComputingComputing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
- A new kind of hardware
The main difference with other kinds of computing lay on the function of its basic element, the formal protein, defined according with its biological prototype and its mathematical model
Mathematical model
A mathematical model is a description of a system using mathematical concepts and language. The process of developing a mathematical model is termed mathematical modeling. Mathematical models are used not only in the natural sciences and engineering disciplines A mathematical model is a...
.
The main biophysical issues
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
considered in immunocomputing are:
- Free foldingProtein foldingProtein folding is the process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation. It is the physical process by which a polypeptide folds into its characteristic and functional three-dimensional structure from random coil....
to a stable state (inspiration for the Formal Protein) - Free binding with other elements dependent on their reciprocal states (inspiration for the Formal Immune NetworksImmune network theoryThe immune network theory is a theory of how the adaptive immune system works, that has been developed since 1974 mainly by Niels Jerne and Geoffrey W. Hoffmann. The theory states that the immune system is an interacting network of lymphocytes and molecules that have variable regions...
)
Formal immune networks (FINs) have as closest model the idiotypic network of N. Jerne
Niels Kaj Jerne
Niels Kaj Jerne, FRS was a Danish immunologist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984. The citation read "For theories concerning the specificity in development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies"....
but they consider specific mechanisms of interactions between proteins
Protein-protein interaction
Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...
. FINs are able to learn, recognize and solve problems.