CAFISS: A Complex Adaptive
Framework for Immune System
Simulation
William Atherton
Dray McFarlane
Background
ƒ NIS is a complex system of agents
ƒ No central processing
ƒ Emergent behavior
ƒ Previously, ODE’s and genetic algorithms
were used
ƒ ODE’s unable to break new ground
ƒ GA’s weren’t broad enough
Simulation Design
ƒ Uses Java, each agent runs in own thread
ƒ All agents are Cell objects
ƒ Uses grid to simulate immune system area
ƒ Uses bit strings for communication and
cell properties
ƒ Cells can mutate!
Agents
ƒ T-Helper Cell
ƒ Recognize antigens
ƒ Alert B-cells
ƒ B-Cell
ƒ Release antibodies
ƒ Antibodies
ƒ Kill antigens
ƒ HIV Cell
ƒ Infect cells and reproduce
ƒ Die if tagged by antibody
Results
ƒ Simulation followed biological observations
ƒ Mutations of HIV defeat immune system
ƒ Simulation doesn’t account for time delay in
immune response
ƒ Results are basic, sim is not very in-depth
ƒ Future work…
Questions?