Who's chasing who? Host-parasite interactions, cryptic diversity and behavioral manipulation

谁在追谁？

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04271
• 负责人: Lagrue, Clement
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=714750
• 关键词: Who; chasing; who; Host; parasite

My research addresses fundamental questions in ecology and evolution using parasites and their hosts as study models, with particular interest in host manipulation by parasites and cryptic diversity (i.e. morphologically identical but genetically divergent lineages). Many examples of parasites altering host phenotype have been documented, some truly spectacular! However, the actual fitness benefits of host manipulation for the parasite are virtually never assessed; I have published one of only three studies that actually demonstrated the adaptive value of host manipulation. Studies of the complexity, adaptive value and mechanisms of host manipulation are extremely rare and at the cutting edge of research. Cryptic diversity is simply never considered in such studies. The proposed program will employ innovative, multidisciplinary approaches to test key hypotheses around host manipulation and cryptic diversity. The 5-year program includes four main objectives: 1. How common are host manipulation and cryptic diversity in host-parasite systems? Focusing on freshwater host-parasite associations of Alberta as study models, we will use DNA barcoding to estimate cryptic diversity in multiple host-parasite combinations. We will then assess host manipulation intensity in a range of host-parasite associations with varying levels of cryptic diversity to test for potential links between host manipulation and such hidden diversity. 2. Are cryptic hosts also cryptic to parasites? Using controlled, experimental cross-infections among host and parasite lineages, we will test the effects of genetic distance on host-parasite compatibility and host manipulation intensity. 3. Is parasite-induced manipulation adaptive? One of the most important, yet least tested aspects of host manipulation. Using field and mesocosm experiments, we will test for adaptive value, complexity (array of host traits targeted), and repeatability (temporal consistency on daily, seasonal and ontogenic scales) of host manipulation. 4. What are the underlying mechanisms of host manipulation? We will combine genomic and proteomic approaches to assess the mechanisms through which these parasitic puppeteers take control of their hosts and induce behavioral traits apparently tailored to their own interests. Significance This program combines multidisciplinary projects using various study models to test universal hypotheses at the cutting edge of research in parasitology, ecology and evolution. It will shed new light on host manipulation complexity, fitness value and underlying mechanisms by treating it not as an isolated phenomenon but as part of the complex interaction of multiple selection pressures on hosts and parasites. We will use innovative approaches at the crossroads of parasitology, molecular ecology (DNA barcoding) and proteomic/genomic that will significantly advance our knowledge of host manipulation complexity, adaptive value and mechanisms by combining pioneering methodologies.

我的研究解决了生态学和进化中的基本问题，使用寄生虫及其宿主作为研究模型，特别关注寄生虫对宿主的操纵和神秘多样性（即形态上相同但遗传上不同的谱系）。许多寄生虫改变宿主表型的例子已经被记录下来，有些确实很壮观！然而，宿主操纵对寄生虫的实际适应性益处几乎从未被评估过;我发表了仅有的三项研究之一，这些研究实际上证明了宿主操纵的适应性价值。对宿主操纵的复杂性、适应价值和机制的研究极为罕见，处于研究的前沿。在这些研究中，神秘的多样性从未被考虑过。该计划将采用创新的多学科方法来测试围绕宿主操纵和神秘多样性的关键假设。 该五年计划包括四个主要目标： 1.在宿主-寄生虫系统中，宿主操纵和隐蔽多样性有多普遍？以阿尔伯塔的淡水宿主-寄生虫协会为研究模型，我们将使用DNA条形码来估计多个宿主-寄生虫组合中的隐蔽多样性。然后，我们将评估主机操纵强度在一系列主机-寄生虫协会与不同水平的神秘多样性，以测试主机操纵和这种隐藏的多样性之间的潜在联系。 2.神秘宿主对寄生虫也是神秘的吗？使用控制，实验交叉感染之间的主机和寄生虫谱系，我们将测试宿主-寄生虫相容性和主机操纵强度的遗传距离的影响。 3.寄生虫诱导的操纵是适应性的吗？主机操作中最重要但测试最少的方面之一。使用现场和围隔实验，我们将测试的适应性价值，复杂性（阵列的主机特性为目标），和可重复性（在日常，季节和个体发育尺度上的时间一致性）的主机操作。 4.宿主操纵的潜在机制是什么？我们将结合联合收割机和蛋白质组学的方法来评估这些寄生傀儡师控制宿主并诱导明显符合自身利益的行为特征的机制。 意义 该计划结合了多学科项目，使用各种研究模型来测试寄生虫学，生态学和进化研究前沿的普遍假设。它将揭示新的光主机操纵的复杂性，健身价值和潜在的机制，治疗它不是一个孤立的现象，而是作为复杂的相互作用的一部分，对主机和寄生虫的多重选择压力。我们将在寄生虫学，分子生态学（DNA条形码）和蛋白质组学/基因组学的十字路口使用创新方法，通过结合开创性的方法，大大提高我们对宿主操作复杂性，适应性价值和机制的认识。