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Transmission-recovery trade-offs to study parasite evolution
1Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada. samuel@mast.queensu.ca
The American Naturalist
|August 20, 2008
Summary
Parasite evolution may be better understood by considering host recovery alongside transmission. A new model shows a trade-off between parasite transmission and host recovery, influenced by the host's immune response.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Parasitology
- Immunology
Background:
- Parasite evolution research often focuses on virulence-transmission trade-offs.
- This model inadequately explains sublethal parasite effects.
- Host recovery is an underappreciated factor in parasite evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and model a transmission-recovery trade-off in parasite evolution.
- To investigate how within-host dynamics and host immunity influence this trade-off.
- To offer new perspectives on the evolution of sublethal parasite effects.
Main Methods:
- Developed an embedded mathematical model.
- Simulated within-host parasite dynamics.
- Analyzed the impact of immune activation on parasite growth rate and host recovery.
Main Results:
- A trade-off between parasite transmission and host recovery can emerge from within-host dynamics.
- Optimal parasite growth rate is dependent on the host's immunological state.
- Antipathogen treatments can strengthen the recovery constraint for human pathogens.
Conclusions:
- Host recovery is a significant selective pressure in parasite evolution.
- The transmission-recovery trade-off provides a framework for understanding sublethal effects.
- This framework is particularly relevant for human pathogens and therapeutic interventions.
