Incomplete host immunity favors the evolution of virulence in an emergent pathogen

Arietta E. Fleming-Davies; Paul D. Williams; André A. Dhondt; Andrew P. Dobson; Wesley M. Hochachka; Ariel E. Leon; David H. Ley; Erik E. Osnas; Dana M. Hawley

doi:10.1126/science.aao2140

Incomplete host immunity favors the evolution of virulence in an emergent pathogen

Arietta E. Fleming-Davies, Paul D. Williams, André A. Dhondt, Andrew P. Dobson, Wesley M. Hochachka, Ariel E. Leon, David H. Ley, Erik E. Osnas, Dana M. Hawley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Immune memory evolved to protect hosts from reinfection, but incomplete responses that allow future reinfection may inadvertently select for more-harmful pathogens. We present empirical and modeling evidence that incomplete immunity promotes the evolution of higher virulence in a natural host-pathogen system. We performed sequential infections of house finches with Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains of various levels of virulence. Virulent bacterial strains generated stronger host protection against reinfection than less virulent strains and thus excluded less virulent strains from infecting previously exposed hosts. In a two-strain model, the resulting fitness advantage selected for an almost twofold increase in pathogen virulence. Thus, the same immune systems that protect hosts from infection can concomitantly drive the evolution of more-harmful pathogens in nature.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1030-1033
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	359
Issue number	6379
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao2140
State	Published - Mar 2 2018

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title = "Incomplete host immunity favors the evolution of virulence in an emergent pathogen",

abstract = "Immune memory evolved to protect hosts from reinfection, but incomplete responses that allow future reinfection may inadvertently select for more-harmful pathogens. We present empirical and modeling evidence that incomplete immunity promotes the evolution of higher virulence in a natural host-pathogen system. We performed sequential infections of house finches with Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains of various levels of virulence. Virulent bacterial strains generated stronger host protection against reinfection than less virulent strains and thus excluded less virulent strains from infecting previously exposed hosts. In a two-strain model, the resulting fitness advantage selected for an almost twofold increase in pathogen virulence. Thus, the same immune systems that protect hosts from infection can concomitantly drive the evolution of more-harmful pathogens in nature.",

author = "Fleming-Davies, {Arietta E.} and Williams, {Paul D.} and Dhondt, {Andr{\'e} A.} and Dobson, {Andrew P.} and Hochachka, {Wesley M.} and Leon, {Ariel E.} and Ley, {David H.} and Osnas, {Erik E.} and Hawley, {Dana M.}",

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doi = "10.1126/science.aao2140",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - Incomplete host immunity favors the evolution of virulence in an emergent pathogen

AU - Fleming-Davies, Arietta E.

AU - Williams, Paul D.

AU - Dhondt, André A.

AU - Dobson, Andrew P.

AU - Hochachka, Wesley M.

AU - Leon, Ariel E.

AU - Ley, David H.

AU - Osnas, Erik E.

AU - Hawley, Dana M.

PY - 2018/3/2

Y1 - 2018/3/2

N2 - Immune memory evolved to protect hosts from reinfection, but incomplete responses that allow future reinfection may inadvertently select for more-harmful pathogens. We present empirical and modeling evidence that incomplete immunity promotes the evolution of higher virulence in a natural host-pathogen system. We performed sequential infections of house finches with Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains of various levels of virulence. Virulent bacterial strains generated stronger host protection against reinfection than less virulent strains and thus excluded less virulent strains from infecting previously exposed hosts. In a two-strain model, the resulting fitness advantage selected for an almost twofold increase in pathogen virulence. Thus, the same immune systems that protect hosts from infection can concomitantly drive the evolution of more-harmful pathogens in nature.

AB - Immune memory evolved to protect hosts from reinfection, but incomplete responses that allow future reinfection may inadvertently select for more-harmful pathogens. We present empirical and modeling evidence that incomplete immunity promotes the evolution of higher virulence in a natural host-pathogen system. We performed sequential infections of house finches with Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains of various levels of virulence. Virulent bacterial strains generated stronger host protection against reinfection than less virulent strains and thus excluded less virulent strains from infecting previously exposed hosts. In a two-strain model, the resulting fitness advantage selected for an almost twofold increase in pathogen virulence. Thus, the same immune systems that protect hosts from infection can concomitantly drive the evolution of more-harmful pathogens in nature.

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Incomplete host immunity favors the evolution of virulence in an emergent pathogen

Abstract

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