IMMSIM, a flexible model for in machina experiments on immune system responses

Abstract

This paper describes the basic structure and the developments of IMMSIM, a modified cellular automaton to simulate chance encounters and discrete effects of cell-cell and cell-molecule interactions in the lymphoid system. Thanks to its flexibility, this model has proven a useful tool in theoretical immunology, experimental research and educational applications. Of the various versions available, we show here the most advanced one (IMMSIM3), that incorporates both humoral and cellular responses. We describe the results obtained by simulating the responses to viral infection, the impact of viral behavior on the quality of response needed to reach a cure, the cooperation/competition relation between cellular and humoral branches and the effect of vaccination. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.