scholarly journals Host sexual dimorphism affects the outcome of within-host pathogen competition

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A.Y. Gipson ◽  
Luis Jimenez ◽  
Matthew D. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Model System ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Pasteuria Ramosa ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence ◽  
Single Genotype ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Multiple Pathogens ◽  
Genotype Infection

AbstractNatural infections often consist multiple pathogens of the same or different species. In multiple infections, pathogens compete for access to host resources and fitness is determined by how well a pathogen can reproduce compared to its competitors. Given the propensity for males and females to exhibit variation in pathogen-induced reduction in lifespan or fecundity, we explore how host sex may modulate the competitive ability of pathogens, potentially favouring the transmission of different pathogen genotypes. Using the Daphnia magna - Pasteuria ramosa model system, we exposed male and female hosts to either a single genotype infection or coinfections consisting of two pathogen genotypes of varying levels of virulence, measured as pathogen-induced reduction in host lifespan. We found that co-infections within females generally favoured the transmission of the more virulent pathogen genotype. Conversely, co-infections within male hosts resulted in equal transmission of competing genotypes, or favoured the transmission of the less virulent pathogen genotype in treatments where it established prior to the more virulent competitor. These results suggest that sex is a form of host heterogeneity which may influence the evolution of virulence within co-infection contexts and that one sex may be a reservoir for pathogen genetic diversity in nature.

scholarly journals Parasite variation and the evolution of virulence in a Daphnia-microparasite system

Parasitology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. LITTLE ◽  
W. CHADWICK ◽  
K. WATT
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Host Genotype ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
Pasteuria Ramosa ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence

SUMMARYUnderstanding genetic relationships amongst the life-history traits of parasites is crucial for testing hypotheses on the evolution of virulence. This study therefore examined variation between parasite isolates (the bacterium Pasteuria ramosa) from the crustacean Daphnia magna. From a single wild-caught infected host we obtained 2 P. ramosa isolates that differed substantially in the mortality they caused. Surprisingly, the isolate causing higher early mortality was, on average, less successful at establishing infections and had a slower growth rate within hosts. The observation that within-host replication rate was negatively correlated with mortality could violate a central assumption of the trade-off hypothesis for the evolution of virulence, but we discuss a number of caveats which caution against premature rejection of the trade-off hypothesis. We sought to test if the characteristics of these parasite isolates were constant across host genotypes in a second experiment that included 2 Daphnia host clones. The relative growth rates of the two parasite isolates did indeed depend on the host genotype (although the rank order did not change). We suggest that testing evolutionary hypotheses for virulence may require substantial sampling of both host and parasite genetic variation, and discuss how selection for virulence may change with the epidemiological state of natural populations and how this can promote genetic variation for virulence.

Pomphorhynchus laevisin its intermediate hostEchinogammarus stammeriin the River Brenta, Italy

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.S. Dezfuli ◽  
E. Rossetti ◽  
C.M. Bellettato ◽  
B.J. Maynard
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Pomphorhynchus Laevis ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Monthly Sample

Infection rates of larvalPomphorhynchus laevisMu¨ller, 1776 (Acanthocephala) were studied in its intermediate hostEchinogammarus stammeriS. Karaman, 1931 (Amphipoda). Crustaceans were collected monthly, from July 1990 to July 1997, at two sites on the River Brenta (northern Italy). Of over 50,000E. stammeriexamined, more than 24% were parasitized withP. laevislarvae. The differences in the prevalence of infection between the two stations were significant. The intensity of infection varied from one to 15 acanthocephalans per host. Amphipods with multiple infections constituted 28–32% of each monthly sample. During the 7 years of investigation, the prevalence of infection typically reached its highest and lowest levels in the summer and spring months, respectively. Acanthocephalan larvae showed no preference for host sex. Infected ovigerous females ofE. stammeriwere found carrying eggs or juveniles in their brood pouches, but had fewer and smaller eggs.Pomphorhynchus laevislarvae co-occurred withAcanthocephalus clavula(Dujardin, 1845) and also with the tapewormCyathocephalus truncatus(Pallas, 1781) in the same host.

scholarly journals Delineating the roles of males and females in sperm competition

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1772) ◽  
pp. 20132047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Evans ◽  
Patrice Rosengrave ◽  
Clelia Gasparini ◽  
Neil J. Gemmell
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Fertilization Success ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Swimming Velocity ◽  
Ovarian Fluid ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Paternity Success

Disentangling the relative roles of males, females and their interactive effects on competitive fertilization success remains a challenge in sperm competition. In this study, we apply a novel experimental framework to an ideally suited externally fertilizing model system in order to delineate these roles. We focus on the chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha , a species in which ovarian fluid (OF) has been implicated as a potential arbiter of cryptic female choice for genetically compatible mates. We evaluated this predicted sexually selected function of OF using a series of factorial competitive fertilization trials. Our design involved a series of 10 factorial crosses, each involving two ‘focal’ rival males whose sperm competed against those from a single ‘standardized’ (non-focal) rival for a genetically uniform set of eggs in the presence of OF from two focal females. This design enabled us to attribute variation in competitive fertilization success among focal males, females (OF) and their interacting effects, while controlling for variation attributable to differences in the sperm competitive ability of rival males, and male-by-female genotypic interactions. Using this experimental framework, we found that variation in sperm competitiveness could be attributed exclusively to differences in the sperm competitive ability of focal males, a conclusion supported by subsequent analyses revealing that variation in sperm swimming velocity predicts paternity success. Together, these findings provide evidence that variation in paternity success can be attributed to intrinsic differences in the sperm competitive ability of rival males, and reveal that sperm swimming velocity is a key target of sexual selection.

scholarly journals Bacteriophage Migration via Nematode Vectors: Host-Parasite-Consumer Interactions in Laboratory Microcosms

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1974-1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Dennehy ◽  
Nicholas A. Friedenberg ◽  
Yul W. Yang ◽  
Paul E. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Model System ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence ◽  
Consumer Interactions ◽  
Host Parasite

ABSTRACT Pathogens vectored by nematodes pose serious agricultural, economic, and health threats; however, little is known of the ecological and evolutionary aspects of pathogen transmission by nematodes. Here we describe a novel model system with two trophic levels, bacteriophages and nematodes, each of which competes for bacteria. We demonstrate for the first time that nematodes are capable of transmitting phages between spatially distinct patches of bacteria. This model system has considerable advantages, including the ease of maintenance and manipulation at the laboratory bench, the ability to observe many generations in short periods, and the capacity to freeze evolved strains for later comparison to their ancestors. More generally, experimental studies of complex multispecies interactions, host-pathogen coevolution, disease dynamics, and the evolution of virulence may benefit from this model system because current models (e.g., chickens, mosquitoes, and malaria parasites) are costly to maintain, are difficult to manipulate, and require considerable space. Our initial explorations centered on independently assessing the impacts of nematode, bacterium, and phage population densities on virus migration between host patches. Our results indicated that virus transmission increases with worm density and host bacterial abundance; however, transmission decreases with initial phage abundance, perhaps because viruses eliminate available hosts before migration can occur. We discuss the microbial growth dynamics that underlie these results, suggest mechanistic explanations for nematode transmission of phages, and propose intriguing possibilities for future research.

scholarly journals Indirect parental effects on offspring viability by egg-derived fluids in an external fertilizer

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1940) ◽  
pp. 20202538
Author(s):  
Rowan A. Lymbery ◽  
Jacob D. Berson ◽  
Jonathan P. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Mytilus Galloprovincialis ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
Model System ◽  
Parental Effects ◽  
Major Area ◽  
Offspring Fitness ◽  
Gamete Interactions ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Nongenetic Inheritance

The capacity for parents to influence offspring phenotypes via nongenetic inheritance is currently a major area of focus in evolutionary biology. Intriguing recent evidence suggests that sexual interactions among males and females, both before and during mating, are important mediators of such effects. Sexual interactions typically extend beyond gamete release, involving both sperm and eggs, and their associated fluids. However, the potential for gamete-level interactions to induce nongenetic parental effects remains under-investigated. Here, we test for such effects using an emerging model system for studying gamete interactions, the external fertilizer Mytilus galloprovincialis . We employed a split-ejaculate design to test whether exposing sperm to egg-derived chemicals (ECs) from a female would affect fertilization rate and offspring viability when those sperm were used to fertilize a different female's eggs. We found separate, significant effects of ECs from non-fertilizing females on both fertilization rate and offspring viability. The offspring viability effect indicates that EC-driven interactions can have nongenetic implications for offspring fitness independent of the genotypes inherited by those offspring. These findings provide a rare test of indirect parental effects driven exclusively by gamete-level interactions, and to our knowledge the first evidence that such effects occur via the gametic fluids of females.

scholarly journals Multiple infections and the evolution of virulence

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 556-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Alizon ◽  
Jacobus C. de Roode ◽  
Yannis Michalakis
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence

scholarly journals Immune defence, parasite evasion strategies and their relevance for ‘macroscopic phenomena’ such as virulence

2008 ◽  
Vol 364 (1513) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Schmid-Hempel
Keyword(s):  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Evolutionary Ecology ◽  
Parasite Clearance ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Parasite Fitness ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Insight Into

The discussion of host–parasite interactions, and of parasite virulence more specifically, has so far, with a few exceptions, not focused much attention on the accumulating evidence that immune evasion by parasites is not only almost universal but also often linked to pathogenesis, i.e. the appearance of virulence. Now, the immune evasion hypothesis offers a deeper insight into the evolution of virulence than previous hypotheses. Sensitivity analysis for parasite fitness and life-history theory shows promise to generate a more general evolutionary theory of virulence by including a major element, immune evasion to prevent parasite clearance from the host. Also, the study of dose–response relationships and multiple infections should be particularly illuminating to understand the evolution of virulence. Taking into account immune evasion brings immunological processes to the core of understanding the evolution of parasite virulence and for a range of related issues such as dose, host specificity or immunopathology. The aim of this review is to highlight the mechanism underlying immune evasion and to discuss possible consequences for the evolutionary ecology analysis of host–parasite interactions.

scholarly journals Demasculinization of male guppies increases resistance to a common and harmful ectoparasite

Parasitology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 142 (13) ◽  
pp. 1647-1655 ◽  
Author(s):  
FELIPE DARGENT ◽  
ADAM R. REDDON ◽  
WILLIAM T. SWANEY ◽  
GREGOR F. FUSSMANN ◽  
SIMON M. READER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Gonadal Steroids ◽  
Measurable Effect ◽  
Immunomodulatory Effects ◽  
Defence Mechanisms ◽  
Androgen Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Evolution Of Resistance ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Over Time

SUMMARYParasites are detrimental to host fitness and therefore should strongly select for host defence mechanisms. Yet, hosts vary considerably in their observed parasite loads. One notable source of inter-individual variation in parasitism is host sex. Such variation could be caused by the immunomodulatory effects of gonadal steroids. Here we assess the influence of gonadal steroids on the ability of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to defend themselves against a common and deleterious parasite (Gyrodactylus turnbulli). Adult male guppies underwent 31 days of artificial demasculinization with the androgen receptor-antagonist flutamide, or feminization with a combination of flutamide and the synthetic oestrogen 17 β-estradiol, and their parasite loads were compared over time to untreated males and females. Both demasculinized and feminized male guppies had lower G. turnbulli loads than the untreated males and females, but this effect appeared to be mainly the result of demasculinization, with feminization having no additional measurable effect. Furthermore, demasculinized males, feminized males and untreated females all suffered lower Gyrodactylus-induced mortality than untreated males. Together, these results suggest that androgens reduce the ability of guppies to control parasite loads, and modulate resistance to and survival from infection. We discuss the relevance of these findings for understanding constraints on the evolution of resistance in guppies and other vertebrates.

scholarly journals Coevolution of virulence and immunosuppression in multiple infections

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsukushi Kamiya ◽  
Nicole Mideo ◽  
Samuel Alizon
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Background Mortality ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence ◽  
Duration Of Infection ◽  
Peer Community ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Host Parasite

AbstractThis preprint has been reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In Evolutionary Biology (http://dx.doi.org/10.24072/pci.evolbiol.100043). Many components of host-parasite interactions have been shown to affect the way virulence (i.e., parasite-induced harm to the host) evolves. However, coevolution of multiple parasite traits is often neglected. We explore how an immunosuppressive mechanism of parasites affects and coevolves with virulence through multiple infections. Applying the adaptive dynamics framework to epidemiological models with coinfection, we show that immunosuppression is a double-edged-sword for the evolution of virulence. On one hand, it amplifies the adaptive benefit of virulence by increasing the abundance of coinfections through epidemiological feedbacks. On the other hand, immunosuppression hinders host recovery, prolonging the duration of infection and elevating the cost of killing the host. The balance between the cost and benefit of immunosuppression varies across different background mortality rates of hosts. In addition, we find that immunosuppression evolution is influenced considerably by the precise trade-off shape determining the effect of immunosuppression on host recovery and susceptibility to further infection. These results demonstrate that the evolution of virulence is shaped by immunosuppression while highlighting that the evolution of immune evasion mechanisms deserves further research attention.

scholarly journals Exposing the Diversity of Multiple Infection Patterns

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mircea T. Sofonea ◽  
Samuel Alizon ◽  
Yannis Michalakis
Keyword(s):  
Large Range ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Multiple Infection ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Empirical Reality ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence ◽  
Host Infection

AbstractNatural populations often have to cope with genetically distinct parasites that can coexist, or not, within the same hosts. Theoretical models addressing the evolution of virulence have considered two within host infection outcomes, namely superinfection and coinfection. The field somehow became limited by this dichotomy that does not correspond to an empirical reality, as other infection patterns, namely sets of within-host infection outcomes, are possible. We indeed formally prove there are 114 different infection patterns for the sole recoverable chronic infections caused by horizontally-transmitted microparasites. We afterwards highlight eight infection patterns using an explicit modelling of within-host dynamics that captures a large range of ecological interactions, five of which have been neglected so far. To clarify the terminology related to multiple infections, we introduce terms describing these new relevant patterns and illustrate them with existing biological systems. This characterisation of infection patterns opens new perspectives for understanding the epidemiology and the evolution of parasites.

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