Effects of acquired immunity and mating strategy on the genetic structure of parasite populations

The American Naturalist
Katrina A Lythgoe

Abstract

Although it may have profound effects on how researchers seek to tackle many infectious diseases, little is known of the genetic structure of many pathogen populations. Previous models have suggested that if levels of cross-protection are high, parasite populations may be structured into discrete strains with nonoverlapping antigenic repertoires, even among populations that reproduce sexually. Here, I consider a discrete model of the coevolution of parasites with host-acquired immunity. In this model, if the effective recombination rate is low, strain structure can be maintained for very high levels of cross-protection. However, if the effective recombination rate is higher, this strain structure can no longer be maintained. The effective recombination rate is affected by the actual recombination rate between immunologically selected loci, the proportion of individuals that reproduce sexually, whether recombination occurs inside or outside of the host or vector, and the level of cross-protection. The model predicts that for Plasmodium falciparum, where reproduction occurs inside of a vector, we expect to see strain structure in areas of low transmission but not in areas of high transmission. Strain structure is unlikely to be s...Continue Reading

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Dec 5, 2014·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Justyna WolinskaSabine Giessler
Jun 24, 2004·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Andrew FentonMichael P Gardner
Nov 4, 2010·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Yutaka Kobayashi, Arndt Telschow
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May 23, 2016·Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS·Enrique González-TortueroJustyna Wolinska
Mar 18, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Paul Schmid-Hempel

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