Stagamancer writes:
So, my hopefully discussion sparking questions are: Do you think that this is a generally accurate statement? And in terms of human (or more correctly-vertebrate) and pathogen interaction, do you think that we have evolved an adaptation that actually prevents any further evolutionary adaptation to disease?
I see what you mean, it is one sided, but I think the answer to your final question is "no". There seems to be variety in individuals (aids immunity, for example) and there's presumably nothing to stop new mutations making improvements in the immune system, and being selected for. Then there may be another factor on our side, so.....
Stagamancer writes:
....but most of our immune system "adaptation" happens only at the somatic (physiological) level. By this, I mean that vertebrates have evolved an immune system that has the ability to generate countless numbers of antibodies and the like simply by rearranging and splicing genes within the immune cells. So, any immunity acquired by an individual is not passed along to his/her offspring, and the offspring much start as a completely naive host.
.....here's something interesting. It may not be sure that somatic changes cannot be passed on.
Vive Lamarck!!.
Edward J. Steele - Wikipedia
If there's anything in that, you can see the implications, and not just for immunity!
(Be sure to read the last 2 paragraphs - it returns to science after the bit about Steele's disputes).
Here's something else, going off at a bit of a tangent, but interesting.
Immune system may explain our small number of genes
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