Effects of shortened host life span on the evolution of parasite life history and virulence in a microbial host-parasite system |
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| Authors: | Thibault Nidelet Jacob C Koella and Oliver Kaltz |
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| Institution: | (1) Laboratoire de Parasitologie Evolutive – UMR 7103, UPMC University Paris 06, 7 quai St-Bernard, 75252 Paris, France;(2) UMR de G?n?tique V?g?tale, University Paris Sud/INRA/CNRS/INAPG, Ferme du Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;(3) Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK;(4) Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, Universit? de Montpellier 2, CC 065, Place Eug?ne Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France |
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| Abstract: | Background Ecological factors play an important role in the evolution of parasite exploitation strategies. A common prediction is that,
as shorter host life span reduces future opportunities of transmission, parasites compensate with an evolutionary shift towards
earlier transmission. They may grow more rapidly within the host, have a shorter latency time and, consequently, be more virulent.
Thus, increased extrinsic (i.e., not caused by the parasite) host mortality leads to the evolution of more virulent parasites.
To test these predictions, we performed a serial transfer experiment, using the protozoan Paramecium caudatum and its bacterial parasite Holospora undulata. We simulated variation in host life span by killing hosts after 11 (early killing) or 14 (late killing) days post inoculation; after killing, parasite transmission stages were collected and used for a new infection cycle. |
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