The evolution of host specialization in an insect pathogen. (22nd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Visher, Elisa; Uricchio, Lawrence; Bartlett, Lewis; DeNamur, Nicole; Yarcan, Aren; Alhassani, Dina; Boots, Mike
• Is Part Of: Evolution. Volume 76:Number 10(2022)
• Page Start: 2375
• Page End: 2388
• Publication Date: 2022-08-22
• Subjects: Experimental evolution -- host range -- host‐parasite interactions -- specialization; Evolution -- Periodicals; Heredity -- Periodicals; Évolution (Biologie) -- Périodiques; Hérédité -- Périodiques; 338.47004094
• DOI: 10.1111/evo.14594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3820

Abstract

Abstract: Niche breadth coevolution between biotic partners underpins theories of diversity and co‐existence and influences patterns of disease emergence and transmission in host‐parasite systems. Despite these broad implications, we still do not fully understand how the breadth of parasites' infectivity evolves, the nature of any associated costs, or the genetic basis of specialization. Here, we serially passage a granulosis virus on multiple inbred populations of its Plodia interpunctella host to explore the dynamics and outcomes of specialization. In particular, we collect time series of phenotypic and genetic data to explore the dynamics of host genotype specialization throughout the course of experimental evolution and examine two fitness components. We find that the Plodia interpunctella granulosis virus consistently evolves and increases in overall specialization, but that our two fitness components evolve independently such that lines can specialize in productivity or infectivity. Furthermore, we find that specialization in our experiment is a highly polygenic trait best explained by a combination of evolutionary mechanisms. These results are important for understanding the evolution of specialization in host‐parasite interactions and its broader implications for co‐existence, diversification, and infectious disease management.