Experimental test of the consequences of host-parasite co-evolution

寄主和寄生虫之间的共同进化相互作用被预测在生物体的进化和生物机制中具有最重要的作用。尽管理论上对它们进行了深入的研究，但令人信服的经验证据仍然很少。拟议的项目对宿主-寄生虫共同进化的后果进行了全面的实验测试，重点放在七个关键预测上。它基于受控实验室条件下的共同进化选择实验，随后进行了广泛的表型和分子分析。该方法依赖于一个独特的模型系统，由线虫秀丽线虫及其微型寄生虫苏云金芽孢杆菌组成，这两个模型系统都非常适合于多功能的实验分析。该项目的结果预计将对当前特别感兴趣的四个生物学研究主题产生影响：动物先天免疫系统、细菌毒力、生活史权衡以及生物多样性的维持和生成。

Co-evolutionary interactions between host and parasite are predicted to be of prime importance in the evolution of organisms and biological mechanisms. Although they have been intensively studied theoretically, convincing empirical evidence is still scarce. The proposed project provides a comprehensive experimental test of the consequences of host-parasite co-evolution with a focus on seven key predictions. It is based on a co-evolution selection experiment under controlled laboratory conditions followed by extensive phenotypic and molecular analysis. The approach relies on a unique model system, consisting of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a host and its micro-parasite Bacillus thuringiensis, which are both ideally suited to a versatile experimental analysis. The results of this project are expected to have an impact on four biological research themes that are of particular current interest: the animal innate immune system, bacterial virulence, life-history trade-offs, and the maintenance and generation of biological diversity.