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Host-pathogen coevolution increases genetic variation in susceptibility to infection

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Duxbury, Elizabeth ML 
Day, Jonathan P 
Vespasiani, Davide Maria 
Thüringer, Yannik 
Tolosana, Ignacio 

Abstract

It is common to find considerable genetic variation in susceptibility to infection in natural populations. We have investigated whether natural selection increases this variation by testing whether host populations show more genetic variation in susceptibility to pathogens that they naturally encounter than novel pathogens. In a large cross-infection experiment involving four species of Drosophila and four host-specific viruses, we always found greater genetic variation in susceptibility to viruses that had coevolved with their host. We went on to examine the genetic architecture of resistance in one host species, finding that there are more major-effect genetic variants in coevolved host-pathogen interactions. We conclude that selection by pathogens has increased genetic variation in host susceptibility, and much of this effect is caused by the occurrence of major-effect resistance polymorphisms within populations.

Description

Keywords

D. melanogaster, Drosophila, coevolution, evolutionary biology, sigma virus, virus, viruses, Alleles, Animals, Chromosome Mapping, Disease Resistance, Disease Susceptibility, Drosophila melanogaster, Female, Genes, Insect, Genetic Variation, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Infections, Male, Polymorphism, Genetic, Rhabdoviridae, Rhabdoviridae Infections, Selection, Genetic, Species Specificity, Viral Load

Journal Title

eLife

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2050-084X
2050-084X

Volume Title

8

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
Sponsorship
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/L004232/1)
European Research Council (281668)