An Evolutionary Perspective on Vector-Borne Diseases

Several aspects of the biology of the three players in a vector-borne disease that affect their evolutionary interactions are outlined. A model of the origin of a human-human cycle of vector-borne diseases is presented emphasizing the narrowing of the niche experienced by the pathogen and vector. Va...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in genetics 2019-12, Vol.10, p.1266
Main Author: Powell, Jeffrey R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
evolution
Genetics
mosquitoes
pathogens
vector-borne diseases
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Several aspects of the biology of the three players in a vector-borne disease that affect their evolutionary interactions are outlined. A model of the origin of a human-human cycle of vector-borne diseases is presented emphasizing the narrowing of the niche experienced by the pathogen and vector. Variation in the expected rates of evolution of the three players is discussed with the rapid rate of pathogen evolution providing them with advantages. Population sizes and fluctuations also affect the three players in very different ways. The time since the origin of a vector-borne disease likely determines how stable the interactions are and thus how easily the disease might be eliminated. Stability and variation are also linked. Human technological advances are rapidly upsetting the previously relatively slow coevolutionary adjustment of the three players. Finally, it is pointed out that development of quantitative coevolutionary models specifically addressing details of vector-borne diseases is needed to identify parameters most likely to break transmission cycles and thus control or eliminate diseases.
ISSN:1664-8021
1664-8021
DOI:10.3389/fgene.2019.01266