Stagaman Keaton, Martinez Emily S, Guillemin Karen
Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
Trends Immunol. 2015 May;36(5):286-9. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2015.03.008. Epub 2015 Apr 9.
The field of immunology has a long history of illuminating fundamental biological processes of critical importance to human health. From an outsider's perspective, the questions are profoundly philosophical and the experimental approaches are elegantly precise. Yet immunology can also appear impenetrable. Here we recount the experience of two graduate students from the fields of ecology and computer science, who have immigrated into immunological terrain attracted by systems-level questions. We argue that such migrations enrich the field of immunology, and that cultural and institutional changes are needed to promote more interdisciplinary explorations.
免疫学领域在揭示对人类健康至关重要的基本生物学过程方面有着悠久的历史。从局外人的角度来看,这些问题极具哲学深度,而实验方法则精妙精准。然而,免疫学也可能显得难以理解。在此,我们讲述两位来自生态学和计算机科学领域的研究生的经历,他们受系统层面问题的吸引而踏入免疫学领域。我们认为,这样的跨界丰富了免疫学领域,并且需要文化和制度上的变革来推动更多的跨学科探索。