Using Lazy Evaluation to Simulate Realistic-size Repertoires in Models of the Immune System

✍ Scribed by Derek J. Smith; Stephanie Forrest; David H. Ackley; Alan S. Perelson

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 163 KB
• Volume: 60
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1522-9602
• DOI: 10.1006/bulm.1997.0035

✦ Synopsis

We describe a method of implementing efficient computer simulations of immune systems that have a large number of unique B-and/or T-cell clones. The method uses an implementation technique called lazy evaluation to create the illusion that all clones are being simulated, while only actually simulating a much smaller number of clones that can respond to the antigens in the simulation. The method is effective because only 0.001-0.01% of clones can typically be stimulated by an antigen, and because many simulations involve only a small number of distinct antigens. A lazy simulation of a realistic number of clones and 10 distinct antigens is 1000 times faster and 10 000 times smaller than a conventional simulation-making simulations of immune systems with realistic-size repertoires computationally tractable.