Experimental Coevolution between C. Elegans and B. Thuringiensis CLUSTER: "Experimental Evolution and Natural Variation of Bacillus-Invertebrate Interactions"

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The coevolution between host and parasite is believed to associate with very high selection dynamics that are of prime importance for the evolution of organisms and biological systems. Despite numerous theoretical studies, conclusive empirical evidence for the complexity of evolutionary effects and the underlying genetic processes is still scarce. The aim of this project is to provide an experimental test of the consequences of host-parasite coevolution at both phenotypic and genomic levels. During the current funding period, we have used evolution experiments to generate strains of hosts (the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans) and parasites (its microparasite Bacillus thuringiensis) with known histories of either coevolution or one-sided adaptation. The imposed differences in evolutionary history indeed caused significant variation in parasite virulence, host resistance and also other life-history traits. During the proposed funding period, we will focus on understanding the genetic basis of the observed phenotypic changes, using a combination of population genomic analysis, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of a new population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs), and the functional genetic analysis of identified candidate genes. We will further link our empirical data to theoretical models to refine our understanding of the dynamics of these interactions. This project is proposed as part of the Bacillus-Invertebrate Cluster within the Priority Programme on Host-Parasite Coevolution.