Host-microbiome coevolution can promote cooperation in a rock-paper-scissors dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Cooperation is a fundamental behaviour observed in all forms of life. The evolution of cooperation has been widely studied, but almost all theories focused on the cooperating individual and its genes. We suggest a different approach, taking into account the microbes carried by the interacting individuals. Accumulating evidence reveals that microbes can affect their host's well-being and behaviour, yet hosts can evolve mechanisms to resist the manipulations of their microbes. We thus propose that coevolution of microbes with their hosts may favour microbes that induce their host to cooperate. Using computational modelling, we show that microbe-induced cooperation can evolve and be maintained in a wide range of conditions, including when facing hosts' resistance to the microbial effect. We f

SUBMITTER: Lewin-Epstein O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7031668 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature