Dataset Information

Adaptation of a Chytrid Parasite to Its Cyanobacterial Host Is Hampered by Host Intraspecific Diversity.

ABSTRACT: Experimental evolution can be used to test for and characterize parasite and pathogen adaptation. We undertook a serial-passage experiment in which a single parasite population of the obligate fungal (chytrid) parasite Rhizophydium megarrhizum was maintained over a period of 200 days under different mono- and multiclonal compositions of its phytoplankton host, the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Planktothrix. Despite initially inferior performance, parasite populations under sustained exposure to novel monoclonal hosts experienced rapid fitness increases evidenced by increased transmission rates. This demonstrates rapid adaptation of chytrids to novel hosts and highlights their high evolutionary potential. In contrast, increased fitness was not detected in parasites exposed to multiclonal host mixtures, indicating that cyanobacterial intraspecific diversity hampers parasites adaptation. Significant increases in intensity of infection were observed in monoclonal and multiclonal treatments, suggesting high evolvability of traits involved in parasite attachment onto hosts (i.e., encystment). A comparison of the performance of evolved and unevolved (control) parasite populations against their common ancestral host did not reveal parasite attenuation. Our results exemplify the ability of chytrid parasites to adapt rapidly to new hosts, while providing experimental evidence that genetic diversity in host populations grants increased resistance to disease by hindering parasite adaptation.

SUBMITTER: Agha R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5952108 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Adaptation of a Chytrid Parasite to Its Cyanobacterial Host Is Hampered by Host Intraspecific Diversity.

Agha Ramsy R Gross Alina A Rohrlack Thomas T Wolinska Justyna J

Frontiers in microbiology 20180508

Experimental evolution can be used to test for and characterize parasite and pathogen adaptation. We undertook a serial-passage experiment in which a single parasite population of the obligate fungal (chytrid) parasite <i>Rhizophydium megarrhizum</i> was maintained over a period of 200 days under different mono- and multiclonal compositions of its phytoplankton host, the bloom-forming cyanobacterium <i>Planktothrix</i>. Despite initially inferior performance, parasite populations under sustained ...[more]

PMID: 29867832

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Project description:Biomass crops are commonly grown in low-grade land and selection of drought-tolerant accessions is of major importance to sustain productivity. In this work, we assess phenotypic variation under different environmental scenarios in a series of accessions of Arundo donax, and contrast it with two closely related species, Arundo donaciformis and Arundo plinii. Gas-exchange and stomatal anatomy analysis showed an elevated photosynthetic capacity in A. plinii compared to A. donax and A. donaciformis with a significant intraspecific variation in A. donax. The three species showed significantly contrasting behaviour of transpiration under developing water stress and increasing vapour pressure deficit (VPD), with A. donax being the most conservative while A. plinii showed an elevated degree of insensitivity to environmental cues. Under optimal conditions, A. donax had the highest estimated leaf area (projected leaf area) and plant dry weight although a significant reduction under water stress was observed for A. donax and A. donaciformis accessions while no differences were recorded for A. plinii between optimal growing conditions (well-watered [WW]) and reduced soil water availability (water-stressed [WS]). A. donax displayed a markedly conservative water use behaviour but elevated sensitivity of biomass accumulation under stress conditions. By contrast, in A. plinii, biomass and transpiration were largely insensitive to WS and increasing VPD, though biomass dry weight under optimal conditions was significantly lower than A. donax. We provide evidence of interspecific phenotypic variation within the Arundo genus while the intraspecific phenotypic plasticity may be exploited for further selection of superior clones under disadvantageous environmental conditions. The extensive trade-off between water use and biomass accumulation present in the three species under stress conditions provides a series of novel traits to be exploited in the selection of superior clones adapted to different environmental scenarios. Non-destructive approaches are provided to screen large populations for water-stress-tolerant A. donax clones.

Dataset Information

Adaptation of a Chytrid Parasite to Its Cyanobacterial Host Is Hampered by Host Intraspecific Diversity.

Publications

Adaptation of a Chytrid Parasite to Its Cyanobacterial Host Is Hampered by Host Intraspecific Diversity.

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