On the coevolution of pathogen and host: I. General theory of discrete time coevolution

The theory of discrete time models of genetically conditioned coevolution is considered as an extension of classical population genetics theory. Strengths and weaknesses of the underlying assumptions are critically discussed in the context of host-pathogen interactions. Convenient formulae are provided to analyze the stability of equilibria. Some conclusions are drawn, which depend only on fairly general assumptions about the nature of host-pathogen coevolution.