List of papers reviewed to uncover trends in the use of model systems in infectious disease ecology & evolutionary biology

Ever since biologists began studying the ecology and evolution of
infectious diseases (EEID), laboratory-based ‘model systems’ have been
important for developing and testing theory. Yet what EEID researchers
mean by ‘model systems’ and what they want from them is unclear. This
uncertainty hinders our ability to maximally exploit these systems,
identify knowledge gaps, and establish effective new model systems. Here,
we borrow a definition of model systems from the biomolecular sciences to
assess how EEID researchers are (and are not) using ten key model systems.
According to this definition, model systems in EEID are not being used to
their fullest and, in fact, cannot even be considered to be model systems.
Research using these systems consistently addresses only two of the three
fundamental processes that underlie disease dynamics—transmission and
disease, but not recovery. Further, studies tend to focus on only a few
scales of biological organization that matter for disease ecology and
evolution. Moreover, the field lacks an infrastructure to perform
comparative analyses. We aim to begin a discussion of what we want from
model systems, which would further progress toward a thorough, holistic
understanding of EEID.