Open AccessThe bacterial parasite P asteuria ramosa is not killed if it fails to infect: implications for coevolution
Author(s) -
King Kayla C.,
Auld Stuart K. J. R.,
Wilson Philip J.,
James Janna,
Little Tom J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.438
Subject(s) - biology , spore , infectivity , host (biology) , parasite hosting , coevolution , genotype , selection (genetic algorithm) , daphnia , experimental evolution , desiccation , parasitism , competition (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , zoology , ecology , virology , virus , genetics , gene , artificial intelligence , world wide web , computer science , crustacean
Strong selection on parasites, as well as on hosts, is crucial for fueling coevolutionary dynamics. Selection will be especially strong if parasites that encounter resistant hosts are destroyed and diluted from the local environment. We tested whether spores of the bacterial parasite P asteuria ramosa were passed through the gut (the route of infection) of their host, D aphnia magna , and whether passaged spores remained viable for a “second chance” at infecting a new host. In particular, we tested if this viability (estimated via infectivity) depended on host genotype, whether or not the genotype was susceptible, and on initial parasite dose. Our results show that P asteuria spores generally remain viable after passage through both susceptible and resistant D aphnia . Furthermore, these spores remained infectious even after being frozen for several weeks. If parasites can get a second chance at infecting hosts in the wild, selection for infection success in the first instance will be reduced. This could also weaken reciprocal selection on hosts and slow the coevolutionary process.