Nematode-bacteria mutualism: Selection within the mutualism supersedes selection outside of the mutualism.

ABSTRACT: The coevolution of interacting species can lead to codependent mutualists. Little is known about the effect of selection on partners within verses apart from the association. Here, we determined the effect of selection on bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophila) both within and apart from its mutualistic partner (a nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae). In nature, the two species cooperatively infect and kill arthropods. We passaged the bacteria either together with (M+), or isolated from (M-), nematodes under two different selection regimes: random selection (S-) and selection for increased virulence against arthropod hosts (S+). We found that the isolated bacteria evolved greater virulence under selection for greater virulence (M-S+) than under random selection (M-S-). In addition, the response t

SUBMITTER: Morran LT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4801668 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature