R gene-mediated host resistance against apoplastic fungal pathogens is not adequately explained by the terms pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) or effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Therefore, it is proposed that this type of resistance is termed 'effector-triggered defence' (ETD). Unlike PTI and ETI, ETD is mediated by R genes encoding cell surface-localised ...

This paper describes a set of criteria for evaluating defence mechanisms against flooding denial of service (DoS) attacks. Effectiveness and usefulness of a defence mechanism in mitigating a DoS attack depends on many issues which are presented here in the form of a taxonomy. The primary goal of this taxonomy is to help in getting a comprehensive view on both the strengths and weaknesses of a s...

Sergio Rasmann*, Taryn L. Bauerle, Katja Poveda and Rachel Vannette Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA; Horticulture, Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA; Agroecology, Georg August University, Waldweg 26, D-37073 Goettingen, Germany; Entomology, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 148...

We provide a defence against whitewashing for trust assessment mechanisms (TAM) by using an underlying social network in MAS and P2P. Since interaction requests are routed through the social network, routers can block requests from portions of the network known for whitewashing. Furthermore, by limiting feedback spread to the interaction routers, the trust assessment can be done without queryin...

The events of 9/11, subsequent anthrax incidents, as well as attacks in London, Spain and elsewhere, have brought increasing attention to the probability of NATO nations becoming a target of a terrorist threat. While telecommunications infrastructures may not be a specific target for attack, the consequences of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) incident on such Cr...

Respiratory syncytial virus is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract illness among infants, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Currently, there is no effective vaccine or disease modifying treatment available and novel interventions are urgently required. Cathelicidins are cationic host defence peptides expressed in the inflamed lung, with key roles in innate host defence again...

he Australian Government’s recent decision not to renew federal funding for the Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) program at the Australian National University (ANU) puts the nation’s public health response capacity at serious risk. This program has provided the investigative backbone to the Communicable Diseases Network Australia for nearly 20 years. A charitable view is that its disestabli...

The origin and the evolutionary stability of cooperation between unrelated individuals is one of the key problems of evolutionary biology. In this paper, a cooperative defence game against a predator is introduced which is based on Hamilton's selfish herd theory and Eshel's survival game models. Cooperation is altruistic in the sense that the individual, which is not the target of the predator,...

Currently, disgust is regarded as the main adaptation for defence against pathogens and parasites in humans. Disgust’s motivational and behavioural features, including withdrawal, nausea, appetite suppression, and the urge to vomit, defend effectively against ingesting or touching sources of pathogens. However, ectoparasites do not attack their hosts via ingestion, but rather actively attach th...

Animal societies depend on effective defence of group resources. Defensive mechanisms can be costly and may constrain the evolution of social structure. We analysed how exocrine mechanisms of colony defence were affected by the evolution of social complexity and of nest architecture in paper wasps (Vespidae). Eusocial paper wasp species exhibit two discrete grades of eusociality, with new colon...