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Host sexual dimorphism affects the outcome of within-host pathogen competition

Stephen A Y Gipson1, Luis Jimenez1, Matthew D Hall1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Geometric Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|May 22, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Host sex influences pathogen competition during coinfections. Female Daphnia magna favored more virulent pathogens, while males transmitted genotypes equally, highlighting sex as a factor in pathogen evolution and diversity.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Pathogen Dynamics

Background:

  • Natural infections frequently involve multiple pathogens, leading to competition for host resources.
  • Host sex is known to influence resource acquisition and immunity, potentially affecting pathogen competition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how host sex (male vs. female) modifies competition between different pathogen genotypes during coinfection.
  • To determine if host sex influences pathogen virulence evolution in coinfection scenarios.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Daphnia magna-Pasteuria ramosa model system for controlled infection experiments.
  • Exposed male and female Daphnia magna to single infections or coinfections with two pathogen genotypes of varying virulence.

Main Results:

  • Coinfections in female Daphnia magna promoted the transmission of more virulent pathogen genotypes.
  • Coinfections in male Daphnia magna resulted in equal transmission of competing pathogen genotypes.
  • Priority effects, where the timing of infection by a less virulent pathogen, influenced the outcome in males.

Conclusions:

  • Host sex acts as a significant source of heterogeneity, impacting pathogen competition and the evolution of virulence during coinfections.
  • One host sex may serve as a reservoir for maintaining pathogen genetic diversity in natural populations.
Keywords:
CoinfectionDaphnia magnaPasteuria ramosapriority effectsvirulence evolutionwithin-host interactions

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