Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Models of parasite virulence

S A Frank1

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine 92717, USA.

The Quarterly Review of Biology
|March 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Parasite evolution involves a trade-off between exploiting hosts and reproduction. Understanding these life history trade-offs is key to explaining parasite virulence and its impact on host populations.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A new measure for end of life planning, preparation, and preferences in Huntington disease: HDQLIFE end of life planning.

Journal of neurology·2017
Same author

The development of a new computer adaptive test to evaluate chorea in Huntington disease: HDQLIFE Chorea.

Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2016
Same author

Generative models versus underlying symmetries to explain biological pattern.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2014
Same author

Natural selection. VII. History and interpretation of kin selection theory.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2013
Same author

Natural selection. VI. Partitioning the information in fitness and characters by path analysis.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2013
Same author

Natural selection. V. How to read the fundamental equations of evolutionary change in terms of information theory.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2012

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Theoretical Ecology

Background:

  • Virulence, the damage parasites inflict on hosts, is shaped by evolutionary pressures.
  • Parasites balance exploiting hosts for longevity against rapid reproduction for transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and apply life history theory, kin selection, and epidemiology to understand parasite virulence.
  • To explore the evolutionary trade-offs influencing parasite fitness and host exploitation.

Main Methods:

  • Summarizing theoretical models of parasite virulence.
  • Applying life history analysis, kin selection, and epidemiological frameworks.
  • Analyzing empirical studies on nematodes, hospital epidemics, and bacterial meningitis.

Main Results:

  • Life history theory provides a powerful framework for generating hypotheses about virulence.
  • Analyzing multiple fitness components prevents common conceptual errors in virulence studies.
  • Trade-offs between longevity and fecundity significantly impact parasite virulence.

Conclusions:

  • Simple life history theory effectively explains diverse virulence phenomena.
  • Evolutionary dynamics of virulence extend to plasmids, genome evolution, and the origins of life.
  • Understanding parasite fitness trade-offs is crucial for managing infectious diseases.

Related Experiment Videos