High parasite diversity accelerates host adaptation and diversification

Host-parasite species pairs are known to coevolve, but how multiple parasites coevolve with their host is unclear. By using experimental coevolution of a host bacterium and its viral parasites, we revealed that diverse parasite communities accelerated host evolution and altered coevolutionary dynami...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2018-05, Vol.360 (6391), p.907-911
Main Authors: Betts, A, Gray, C, Zelek, M, MacLean, R C, King, K C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological evolution
Cell surface
Coevolution
Divergence
Dynamics
Evolution
Host-parasite interactions
Infectivity
Lipopolysaccharides
Loads (forces)
Molecular chains
Molecular evolution
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Mutation
Parasites
Phages
Population genetics
Populations
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Species
Variation
Viruses
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Summary:Host-parasite species pairs are known to coevolve, but how multiple parasites coevolve with their host is unclear. By using experimental coevolution of a host bacterium and its viral parasites, we revealed that diverse parasite communities accelerated host evolution and altered coevolutionary dynamics to enhance host resistance and decrease parasite infectivity. Increases in parasite diversity drove shifts in the mode of selection from fluctuating (Red Queen) dynamics to predominately directional (arms race) dynamics. Arms race dynamics were characterized by selective sweeps of generalist resistance mutations in the genes for the host bacterium's cell surface lipopolysaccharide (a bacteriophage receptor), which caused faster molecular evolution within host populations and greater genetic divergence among populations. These results indicate that exposure to multiple parasites influences the rate and type of host-parasite coevolution.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.aam9974