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Determining the Likelihood of Variant Pathogenicity Using Amino Acid-level Signal-to-Noise Analysis of Genetic Variation
Published on: January 16, 2019
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Disentangling host genetic variation for avoidance and resistance to pathogens
Caroline R Amoroso1, Janis Antonovics2,3
1Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. cra2z@virginia.edu.
BMC Biology
|January 31, 2026
Summary
Host defenses like avoidance and resistance interact, influencing each other's evolution. While both can exist, they often show negative associations, with one defense typically dominating within a population.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Epidemiology
- Population genetics
Background:
- Hosts employ avoidance (behavioral) and resistance (immunological) to mitigate pathogen impact.
- These host defenses are crucial for preserving host fitness and reducing pathogen success.
- The interplay between avoidance and resistance suggests interdependent epidemiological and evolutionary effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of genetic associations between avoidance and resistance.
- To model the linkage disequilibrium (LD) between genes controlling host defense strategies.
- To understand how infectious diseases shape the co-evolution of avoidance and resistance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a two-locus population genetics model.
- Simulated the evolution of allelic associations under disease pressure.
- Analyzed conditions for stable polymorphism at defense loci.
Main Results:
- Polymorphism for both avoidance and resistance was possible but restricted to specific parameter ranges.
- In stable polymorphic populations, avoidance and resistance alleles exhibited negative linkage disequilibrium (LD).
- Most often, only one defense locus maintained polymorphism, with the other becoming fixed.
Conclusions:
- Avoidance and resistance significantly influence each other's evolution due to shared impacts on infection and associated costs.
- The relationship between avoidance and resistance is complex and not always intuitive.
- Covariation between avoidance and resistance is more probable across different populations than within a single population.
Keywords:
Behavioral immune systemDisease ecologyEco-evolutionary feedbacksHost-parasite interactionsInfectious diseaseMore Related Videos
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