COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Evolution of Amphibian MHC Genes After an Infectious Disease Outbreak

世界各地的两栖动物数量正在以前所未有的速度下降和大规模死亡。真菌疾病合孢子菌病是这种流行病的主要原因，在类似环境中发生的物种之间的不同易感性表明，遗传学可能决定个人对感染的反应。Zamudio和Lips将结合现场和实验室研究，测试主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)免疫基因的变异性是否赋予这种新出现的传染病不同的生存能力，以及疾病本身如何在疫情爆发后改变人口的遗传和人口构成。该计划的重点是中美洲的青蛙种群，那里的棘霉病致死率很高；然而，他们的发现将适用于世界各地的两栖动物种群。该项目将提供更好的理解，了解新出现的疾病如何形成适应性分子进化，以及免疫基因的变异性如何有助于应对新的疾病威胁。这项研究将实时量化这种疾病的分子影响，以及生存的遗传决定因素，从而为尚未接触这种疾病的其他种群或物种提供有用的流行病学预测。

Amphibian populations around the world are experiencing declines and mass mortalities at an unprecedented rate. The fungal disease chytridiomycosis is a primary cause of this epidemic, and differential susceptibility among species occurring in similar environments suggests that genetics may determine how individuals respond to infection. Zamudio and Lips will combine field and laboratory studies to test whether variability in immunity genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) confer differential survivorship to this emerging infectious disease, and how the disease itself alters the genetic and demographic composition of populations following an outbreak. The proposal focuses on frog populations in Central America where chytridiomycosis lethality is prevalent; however, their findings will be applicable to amphibian populations worldwide.This project will provide a better understanding of how emerging diseases shape adaptive molecular evolution, and how variability in immunity genes contribute to the response to novel disease threats. This research will quantify the molecular effects of this disease in ?real-time?, in addition to the genetic determinants of survivorship, resulting in useful epidemiological predictions for other populations or species that have yet to be exposed to the disease.