Trajectory and genomic determinants of fungal-pathogen speciation and host adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Much remains unknown regarding speciation. Host-pathogen interactions are a major driving force for diversification, but the genomic basis for speciation and host shifting remains unclear. The fungal genus Metarhizium contains species ranging from specialists with very narrow host ranges to generalists that attack a wide range of insects. By genomic analyses of seven species, we demonstrated that generalists evolved from specialists via transitional species with intermediate host ranges and that this shift paralleled insect evolution. We found that specialization was associated with retention of sexuality and rapid evolution of existing protein sequences whereas generalization was associated with protein-family expansion, loss of genome-defense mechanisms, genome restructuring, horizontal

SUBMITTER: Hu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4250126 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature