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量死亡。真菌疾病壶菌病是这种流行病的主要原因，在相似环境中发生的物种之间的不同易感性表明，遗传可能决定了个体对感染的反应。Zamudio和Lips将结合现场和实验室研究，以测试主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）免疫基因的变异是否赋予这种新发传染病不同的生存率，以及疾病本身如何在疫情爆发后改变人群的遗传和人口组成。该建议的重点是中美洲壶菌病致死率普遍的青蛙种群；然而，他们的发现将适用于全球的两栖动物种群。该项目将更好地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促进对新疾病威胁的反应。这项研究将实时量化这种疾病的分子效应。，从而对尚未接触该疾病的其他种群或物种作出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.