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Multiplicity of infection does not accelerate infectivity evolution of viral parasites in laboratory microcosms
Author(s) -
HALL A. R.,
SCANLAN P. D.,
LEGGETT H. C.,
BUCKLING A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02434.x
Subject(s) - biology , infectivity , experimental evolution , multiplicity of infection , microcosm , parasite hosting , coinfection , host (biology) , antagonistic coevolution , lytic cycle , adaptation (eye) , coevolution , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , virus , genetics , evolutionary biology , ecology , gene , neuroscience , sexual conflict , world wide web , computer science , mating
Abstract Coinfection with multiple parasite genotypes [multiplicity of infection (MOI)] creates within‐host competition and opportunities for parasite recombination and is therefore predicted to be important for both parasite and host evolution. We tested for a difference in the infectivity of viral parasites (lytic phage Φ2) and resistance of their bacterial hosts ( Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25) under both high and low MOI during coevolution in laboratory microcosms. Results show that MOI has no effect on infectivity and resistance evolution during coevolution over ∼80 generations of host growth, and this is true when the experiment is initiated with wild‐type viruses and hosts, or with viruses and hosts that have already been coevolving for ∼330 generations. This suggests that MOI does not have a net effect of accelerating parasite adaptation to hosts through recombination, or slowing adaptation to hosts through between‐parasite conflict in this system.