Paper Info
Title
Modes of evolution in a parasite-host interaction: dis-entangling factors determining the evolution of regulated fimbriation in E. coli.
Abstract
Escherichia coli expresses type-I fimbriae; these are protrusions from the outer cell wall and have been identified as a virulence factor. They are also expressed by commensal strains of E. coli although (at any one time) only by a small proportion of the population. The orthodox interpretation of this is that fimbriation is regulated so as (i) to trigger a host-based release of nutrients in the form of inflammation signals by slightly activating host defenses and (ii) while avoiding a full scale inflammatory response. This article presents a number of computer simulations of the evolution of fimbriae to scrutinize the evolutionary plausibility of this orthodox view. It turns out that these simulations suggest a revised interpretation of the fimbriae mediated parasite–host interaction. Rather than being a passive victim the host is actively providing a niche that evolutionary favors less virulent parasites. The article closes with a number of testable predictions of this model.
Year
DOI
Venue
2009
10.1016/j.biosystems.2008.07.001
Biosystems
Keywords
Field
DocType
Evolution,E. coli,Fimbriation,Virulence factors,Agent-based model
Population,Biology,Virulence factor,Parasite hosting,Niche,Genetics,Fimbria,Virulence,Escherichia coli
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
95
1
0303-2647
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
2
0.49
0
Authors
1
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Dominique Chu14912.07