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

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，特别感兴趣的是寄生虫对宿主的操纵和隐性多样性（即形态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，其中一些真的很壮观！然而，操纵宿主对寄生虫的实际适应性益处实际上从未被评估过；我已经发表了三篇研究中的一篇，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、自适应价值和机制的研究极为罕见，处于研究的前沿。在这些研究中根本没有考虑到隐性多样性。拟议的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。这个为期5年的项目包括四个主要目标：在宿主-寄生虫系统中，宿主操纵和隐性多样性有多普遍？以阿尔伯塔省的淡水宿主-寄生虫关联为研究模型，我们将使用DNA条形码来估计多种宿主-寄生虫组合的隐多样性。然后，我们将评估宿主操纵强度在不同水平的隐性多样性的宿主-寄生虫关联范围内，以测试宿主操纵与这种隐性多样性之间的潜在联系。2.隐寄主对寄生虫也隐寄主吗？利用宿主和寄生虫谱系间可控的实验性交叉感染，我们将测试遗传距离对宿主-寄生虫相容性和宿主操纵强度的影响。3.寄生虫诱导的操作具有适应性吗？这是主机操作中最重要但测试最少的方面之一。通过田间和中观实验，我们将测试宿主操作的适应价值、复杂性（目标宿主特征的阵列）和可重复性（每日、季节和个体尺度的时间一致性）。4.宿主操纵的潜在机制是什么？我们将结合基因组学和蛋白质组学方法来评估这些寄生虫操纵宿主的机制，通过这些机制，寄生虫操纵宿主并诱导明显符合自身利益的行为特征。本项目结合多学科项目，采用多种研究模式，在寄生虫学、生态学和进化研究的前沿检验普遍假设。通过将其视为宿主和寄生虫多重选择压力复杂相互作用的一部分，而不是一个孤立的现象，它将为宿主操纵的复杂性、适应度价值和潜在机制提供新的线索。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的方法，通过结合开创性的方法，将大大提高我们对宿主操作复杂性，适应价值和机制的认识。

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.