Variable opportunities for outcrossing result in hotspots of novel genetic variation in a pathogen metapopulation
| Autor: | Benoit Barrès, Jukka Sirén, Elina Numminen, Anna-Liisa Laine |
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| Přispěvatelé: | University of Zurich, Organismal and Evolutionary Biological Research Programme (OEB), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences [Helsinki], University of Helsinki-University of Helsinki, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Universität Zürich [Zürich] = University of Zurich (UZH), CAractérisation et Suivi des Phénomènes d'Evolution de Résistance aux pesticides (CASPER), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES), Helsinki Institute for Information Technology (HIIT), Aalto University-University of Helsinki, European Research Council (ERC)281517Anna-Liisa Laine European Research Council 724508, University of Helsinki, Department of Computer Science, Aalto-yliopisto, Aalto University, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Research Centre for Ecological Change, Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS), Environmental and Ecological Statistics Group |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine Evolution of sexual reproduction Epidemiology [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] DIVERSITY RECOMBINATION Cost of sex APPROXIMATE BAYESIAN COMPUTATION 01 natural sciences 2400 General Immunology and Microbiology RED-QUEEN Biology (General) Organism POPULATION education.field_of_study Ecology General Neuroscience Podosphaera plantaginis 2800 General Neuroscience General Medicine Overwintering 1181 Ecology evolutionary biology Host-Pathogen Interactions 590 Animals (Zoology) Medicine SEX epidemiology COINFECTION Research Article QH301-705.5 Neuroscience(all) Science Population outcrossing Metapopulation Outcrossing Genetics and Molecular Biology Biology 010603 evolutionary biology General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology 03 medical and health sciences 10127 Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Ascomycota 1300 General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology Immunology and Microbiology(all) Plantago lanceolata Genetic variation Animals Parasites education Plantago evolution of sex Genetic diversity Evolutionary Biology General Immunology and Microbiology Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology(all) fungi Genetic Variation 113 Computer and information sciences coinfection Sexual reproduction 030104 developmental biology MAINTENANCE Evolutionary biology General Biochemistry EVOLUTIONARY 570 Life sciences biology Other RESISTANCE |
| Zdroj: | eLife, Vol 8 (2019) eLife eLife, eLife Sciences Publication, 2019, 8, ⟨10.7554/eLife.47091⟩ |
| ISSN: | 2050-084X |
| Popis: | Many pathogens possess the capacity for sex through outcrossing, despite being able to reproduce also asexually and/or via selfing. Given that sex is assumed to come at a cost, these mixed reproductive strategies typical of pathogens have remained puzzling. While the ecological and evolutionary benefits of outcrossing are theoretically well-supported, support for such benefits in pathogen populations are still scarce. Here, we analyze the epidemiology and genetic structure of natural populations of an obligate fungal pathogen, Podosphaera plantaginis. We find that the opportunities for outcrossing vary spatially. Populations supporting high levels of coinfection –a prerequisite of sex – result in hotspots of novel genetic diversity. Pathogen populations supporting coinfection also have a higher probability of surviving winter. Jointly our results show that outcrossing has direct epidemiological consequences as well as a major impact on pathogen population genetic diversity, thereby providing evidence of ecological and evolutionary benefits of outcrossing in pathogens. eLife digest The existence of sex – broadly defined as the coming together of genes from different individuals – is one of the big evolutionary puzzles. Reproduction allows an organism to pass on its genes to future generations. However, while asexual and self-fertilizing individuals transmit all of their genes to their offspring, individuals that reproduce through sex transmit only half of their genome. This is considered the cost of sex. Many pathogens reproduce through sex, despite often also being able to reproduce asexually or by self-fertilization. Typically a pre-requisite of sex in pathogens is for at least two different strains to infect the same host. Aside from this limitation, little is known about when, where and why pathogens have sex. It has been tricky to study due to the microscopic size of pathogens and the difficulties of identifying different sexes. Moreover, sexual reproduction may be triggered by environmental cues that are difficult to mimic under controlled experimental conditions. Are there any benefits associated with pathogen sex? To find out, Laine et al. analyzed data collected over the course of four years from thousands of populations of a powdery mildew fungus that infected plants across the Åland islands. This revealed that the opportunities for pathogen sex vary in different locations. Areas where multiple strains of the fungus commonly infect the same plants result in hotspots of new genetic diversity. These mixed populations are also more likely to survive winter. This demonstrates the potential for pathogen sexual reproduction to provide an ecological benefit. Identifying areas and populations where pathogens have sex can help to identify when and where new strains are most likely to emerge. In the future, studies that use similar methods to Laine et al. could help to predict where infections and diseases are highly likely to arise. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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