-symmetric model of immune response

Abstract

The study of -symmetric physical systems began in 1998 as a complex generalization of conventional quantum mechanics, but beginning in 2007 experiments began to be published in which the predicted phase transition was clearly observed in classical rather than in quantum-mechanical systems. This paper examines the classical phase transition in dynamical-system models that are moderately accurate representations of antigen–antibody systems. A surprising conclusion that can be drawn from these models is that it might be possible treat a serious disease in which the antigen concentration grows out of bounds (and the host dies) by injecting a small dose of a second (different) antigen. In this case a -symmetric analysis shows there are two possible favorable outcomes. In the unbroken--symmetric phase the disease becomes chronic and is no longer lethal, while in the appropriate broken--symmetric phase the concentration of lethal antigen goes to zero and the disease is completely cured.