Microbial protection favors parasite tolerance and alters host-parasite coevolutionary dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Coevolution between hosts and parasites is a major driver of rapid evolutionary change¹ and diversification.^2,3 However, direct antagonistic interactions between hosts and parasites could be disrupted⁴ when host microbiota form a line of defense, a phenomenon widespread across animal and plant species.^5,6 By suppressing parasite infection, protective microbiota could reduce the need for host-based defenses and favor host support for microbiota colonization,⁶ raising the possibility that the microbiota can alter host-parasite coevolutionary patterns and processes.⁷ Here, using an experimental evolution approach, we co-passaged populations of nematode host (Caenorhabditis elegans) an

SUBMITTER: Rafaluk-Mohr C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9355892 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature