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Cellular and immunological mechanisms influence host-Adapted phenotypes in a vector-borne microparasite

Lin, Yi Pin ; Tufts, Danielle M. ; Combs, Matthew ; Dupuis, Alan P. ; Marcinkiewicz, Ashley L. ; Hirsbrunner, Andrew D. ; Diaz, Alexander J. ; Stout, Jessica L. ; Blom, Anna M. LU orcid and Strle, Klemen , et al. (2022) In Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 289(1969).
Abstract

Predicting pathogen emergence and spillover risk requires understanding the determinants of a pathogens host range and the traits involved in host competence. While host competence is often considered a fixed species-specific trait, it may be variable if pathogens diversify across hosts. Balancing selection can lead to maintenance of pathogen polymorphisms (multiple-niche-polymorphism; MNP). The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), provides a model to study the evolution of host adaptation, as some Bb strains defined by their outer surface protein C (ospC) genotype, are widespread in white-footed mice and others are associated with non-rodent vertebrates (e.g. birds). To identify the mechanisms underlying... (More)

Predicting pathogen emergence and spillover risk requires understanding the determinants of a pathogens host range and the traits involved in host competence. While host competence is often considered a fixed species-specific trait, it may be variable if pathogens diversify across hosts. Balancing selection can lead to maintenance of pathogen polymorphisms (multiple-niche-polymorphism; MNP). The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), provides a model to study the evolution of host adaptation, as some Bb strains defined by their outer surface protein C (ospC) genotype, are widespread in white-footed mice and others are associated with non-rodent vertebrates (e.g. birds). To identify the mechanisms underlying potential strain × host adaptation, we infected American robins and white-footed mice, with three Bb strains of different ospC genotypes. Bb burdens varied by strain in a host-dependent fashion, and strain persistence in hosts largely corresponded to Bb survival at early infection stages and with transmission to larvae (i.e. fitness). Early survival phenotypes are associated with cell adhesion, complement evasion and/or inflammatory and antibody-mediated removal of Bb, suggesting directional selective pressure for host adaptation and the potential role of MNP in maintaining OspC diversity. Our findings will guide future investigations to inform eco-evolutionary models of host adaptation for microparasites.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
American robin, Borrelia, host adaptation, Lyme disease, white-footed mouse
in
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
volume
289
issue
1969
article number
20212087
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
external identifiers
  • scopus:85125155744
  • pmid:35193398
ISSN
0962-8452
DOI
10.1098/rspb.2021.2087
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d6e13a69-4293-423c-9f6c-a8f8503bc6b0
date added to LUP
2022-04-27 08:40:02
date last changed
2024-06-17 06:23:46
@article{d6e13a69-4293-423c-9f6c-a8f8503bc6b0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Predicting pathogen emergence and spillover risk requires understanding the determinants of a pathogens host range and the traits involved in host competence. While host competence is often considered a fixed species-specific trait, it may be variable if pathogens diversify across hosts. Balancing selection can lead to maintenance of pathogen polymorphisms (multiple-niche-polymorphism; MNP). The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), provides a model to study the evolution of host adaptation, as some Bb strains defined by their outer surface protein C (ospC) genotype, are widespread in white-footed mice and others are associated with non-rodent vertebrates (e.g. birds). To identify the mechanisms underlying potential strain × host adaptation, we infected American robins and white-footed mice, with three Bb strains of different ospC genotypes. Bb burdens varied by strain in a host-dependent fashion, and strain persistence in hosts largely corresponded to Bb survival at early infection stages and with transmission to larvae (i.e. fitness). Early survival phenotypes are associated with cell adhesion, complement evasion and/or inflammatory and antibody-mediated removal of Bb, suggesting directional selective pressure for host adaptation and the potential role of MNP in maintaining OspC diversity. Our findings will guide future investigations to inform eco-evolutionary models of host adaptation for microparasites.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lin, Yi Pin and Tufts, Danielle M. and Combs, Matthew and Dupuis, Alan P. and Marcinkiewicz, Ashley L. and Hirsbrunner, Andrew D. and Diaz, Alexander J. and Stout, Jessica L. and Blom, Anna M. and Strle, Klemen and Davis, April D. and Kramer, Laura D. and Kolokotronis, Sergios Orestis and Diuk-Wasser, Maria A.}},
  issn         = {{0962-8452}},
  keywords     = {{American robin; Borrelia; host adaptation; Lyme disease; white-footed mouse}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1969}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences}},
  title        = {{Cellular and immunological mechanisms influence host-Adapted phenotypes in a vector-borne microparasite}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.2087}},
  doi          = {{10.1098/rspb.2021.2087}},
  volume       = {{289}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}