Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Quigley, Benjamin J. Z.; Brown, Sam P.; Leggett, Helen C.; Scanlan, Pauline D.; Buckling, Angus
2017
May
Journal Of Parasitology
Within-host interference competition can prevent invasion of rare parasites.
Validated
Optional Fields
Multiplicity of infection MOI Interference competition Positive frequency dependence Bacteria Phage
145
6
770
774
Competition between parasite species or genotypes can play an important role in the establishment of parasites in new host populations. Here, we investigate a mechanism by which a rare parasite is unable to establish itself in a host population if a common resident parasite is already present (a 'priority effect'). We develop a simple epidemiological model and show that a rare parasite genotype is unable to invade if coinfecting parasite genotypes inhibit each other's transmission more than expected from simple resource partitioning. This is because a rare parasite is more likely to be in multiply-infected hosts than the common genotype, and hence more likely to pay the cost of reduced transmission. Experiments competing interfering clones of bacteriophage infecting a bacterium support the model prediction that the clones are unable to invade each other from rare. We briefly discuss the implications of these results for host-parasite ecology and (co)evolution.
1469-8161
https://doi.org/10.1017/S003118201700052X
10.1017/S003118201700052X
Grant Details