The evolutionary and coevolutionary consequences of defensive microbes for host-parasite interactions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Animal and plant species can harbour microbes that provide them with protection against enemies. These beneficial microbes can be a significant component of host defence that complement or replaces a repertoire of immunity, but they can also be costly. Given their impact on host and parasite fitness, defensive microbes have the potential to influence host-parasite interactions on an evolutionary timescale.

Results

Using a phenotypic framework, we explore the evolutionary and coevolutionary dynamics of a host-parasite interaction in the presence of defensive microbes. We show that costs of host-defensive microbe systems are critical in determining whether a defensive microbe based system or an immune system provides better host protection investment. Partitioning t

SUBMITTER: King KC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5557575 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature