Antibiotic-driven escape of host in a parasite-induced Red Queen dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Winnerless coevolution of hosts and parasites could exhibit Red Queen dynamics, which is characterized by parasite-driven cyclic switching of expressed host phenotypes. We hypothesize that the application of antibiotics to suppress the reproduction of parasites can provide an opportunity for the hosts to escape such winnerless coevolution. Here, we formulate a minimal mathematical model of host-parasite interaction involving multiple host phenotypes that are targeted by adapting parasites. Our model predicts the levels of antibiotic effectiveness that can steer the parasite-driven cyclic switching of host phenotypes (oscillations) to a stable equilibrium of host survival. Our simulations show that uninterrupted application of antibiotic with high-level effectiveness (greater than 85%) is n

SUBMITTER: Anzia EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6170573 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature