8.592 - HST.452J (Fall 2025)

Statistical Physics in Biology

Lecture 18

Adaptive immune system (I)

1. The adaptive immune system: B cells, T cells- diverse, self-tolerant, and specific
2. Thymic Selection: positive and negative selection, specificity from weak amino-acids, extreme value distribution
3. Quorum sensing for peripheral tolerance, and persistent infections

(Chapter 3 of book by Arup Chakraborty)

(Kardar notes on Extreme Value Distributions)