Collaborative Research: Joint influences of host genetics and community context on eco-evolutionary host-parasite dynamics

合作研究：宿主遗传学和群落环境对生态进化宿主-寄生虫动态的共同影响

• 批准号: 0841679
• 负责人: Michael Goodisman
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-04-01 至 2013-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0841679&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Joint; influences; host

Project title: Collaborative Research: Joint influences of host genetics and community context on eco-evolutionary host-parasite dynamics Why are some epidemics devastating to host populations, while others have only small effects? This question is particularly timely given that epidemics of infectious disease in wildlife populations have increased worldwide. In this project, Duffy and Hall will study links between the severity of fungal parasite epidemics in zooplankton host populations and interactions between evolutionary and ecological processes. One key factor that may shape disease severity is rapid evolution of disease resistance, fueled by genetic variation within host populations. If true, genetic variation in resistance could potentially dictate the severity of epidemics. If genetically diverse host populations can better withstand disease, results from this project might then suggest worrisome, causal links between worldwide increase in disease and the recent, widespread loss of biodiversity. A second key factor that may shape disease severity is predation. In particular, Duffy and Hall will consider the role of predators which selectively prey on infected hosts (a common occurrence in nature). They are particularly interested in whether predation and genetic variation in resistance interact to determine epidemic severity. This project will use a three-pronged approach to tackle these questions. It will combine intensive studies of natural epidemics in lake plankton, laboratory experiments manipulating host diversity and predation, and development of epidemiological models that incorporate both rapid evolution and selective predation. The processes examined and the modeling work naturally extend to many other disease systems. Therefore, this work will ultimately produce theoretical guidance for efforts seeking to understand and control the severity of wildlife disease.

项目标题：合作研究：宿主遗传学和社区环境对生态进化宿主-寄生虫动态的联合影响为什么一些流行病对宿主种群具有破坏性，而另一些流行病只有很小的影响？鉴于世界各地野生动物种群中传染病的流行已有所增加，这一问题尤其及时。在这个项目中，达菲和霍尔将研究浮游动物宿主种群中真菌寄生虫流行的严重程度与进化和生态过程之间的相互作用之间的联系。可能决定疾病严重程度的一个关键因素是由宿主群体内的遗传变异推动的抗病能力的快速进化。如果是真的，抗药性的遗传变异可能会决定疫情的严重程度。如果基因多样化的宿主群体能够更好地抵御疾病，那么该项目的结果可能会表明，全球疾病增加与最近广泛的生物多样性丧失之间存在令人担忧的因果联系。可能影响疾病严重程度的第二个关键因素是捕食。特别是，达菲和霍尔将考虑捕食者的作用，这些捕食者选择性地捕食受感染的宿主(这在自然界中是常见的)。他们特别感兴趣的是，捕食和抗药性的遗传变异是否相互作用来确定流行病的严重程度。这个项目将采用三管齐下的方法来解决这些问题。它将结合对湖泊浮游生物自然流行病的深入研究，操纵宿主多样性和捕食的实验室实验，以及结合快速进化和选择性捕食的流行病学模型的开发。研究的过程和建模工作自然延伸到许多其他疾病系统。因此，这项工作最终将为寻求了解和控制野生动物疾病严重程度的努力提供理论指导。