Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.

The distribution of multi-host pathogens over their host range conditions their population dynamics and structure. Also, host co-infection by different pathogens may have important consequences for the evolution of hosts and pathogens, and host-pathogen co-evolution. Hence it is of interest to know...

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Main Authors: José M Malpica, Soledad Sacristán, Aurora Fraile, Fernando García-Arenal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2006-12-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1762347?pdf=render
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author José M Malpica
Soledad Sacristán
Aurora Fraile
Fernando García-Arenal
author_facet José M Malpica
Soledad Sacristán
Aurora Fraile
Fernando García-Arenal
author_sort José M Malpica
collection DOAJ
description The distribution of multi-host pathogens over their host range conditions their population dynamics and structure. Also, host co-infection by different pathogens may have important consequences for the evolution of hosts and pathogens, and host-pathogen co-evolution. Hence it is of interest to know if the distribution of pathogens over their host range is random, or if there are associations between hosts and pathogens, or between pathogens sharing a host. To analyse these issues we propose indices for the observed patterns of host infection by pathogens, and for the observed patterns of co-infection, and tests to analyse if these patterns conform to randomness or reflect associations. Applying these tests to the prevalence of five plant viruses on 21 wild plant species evidenced host-virus associations: most hosts and viruses were selective for viruses and hosts, respectively. Interestingly, the more host-selective viruses were the more prevalent ones, suggesting that host specialisation is a successful strategy for multi-host pathogens. Analyses also showed that viruses tended to associate positively in co-infected hosts. The developed indices and tests provide the tools to analyse how strong and common are these associations among different groups of pathogens, which will help to understand and model the population biology of multi-host pathogens.
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spelling doaj.art-08293bf6bf8b40fdba8b836a8ee720812022-12-22T02:06:26ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032006-12-011e4110.1371/journal.pone.0000041Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.José M MalpicaSoledad SacristánAurora FraileFernando García-ArenalThe distribution of multi-host pathogens over their host range conditions their population dynamics and structure. Also, host co-infection by different pathogens may have important consequences for the evolution of hosts and pathogens, and host-pathogen co-evolution. Hence it is of interest to know if the distribution of pathogens over their host range is random, or if there are associations between hosts and pathogens, or between pathogens sharing a host. To analyse these issues we propose indices for the observed patterns of host infection by pathogens, and for the observed patterns of co-infection, and tests to analyse if these patterns conform to randomness or reflect associations. Applying these tests to the prevalence of five plant viruses on 21 wild plant species evidenced host-virus associations: most hosts and viruses were selective for viruses and hosts, respectively. Interestingly, the more host-selective viruses were the more prevalent ones, suggesting that host specialisation is a successful strategy for multi-host pathogens. Analyses also showed that viruses tended to associate positively in co-infected hosts. The developed indices and tests provide the tools to analyse how strong and common are these associations among different groups of pathogens, which will help to understand and model the population biology of multi-host pathogens.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1762347?pdf=render
spellingShingle José M Malpica
Soledad Sacristán
Aurora Fraile
Fernando García-Arenal
Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.
PLoS ONE
title Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.
title_full Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.
title_fullStr Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.
title_full_unstemmed Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.
title_short Association and host selectivity in multi-host pathogens.
title_sort association and host selectivity in multi host pathogens
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1762347?pdf=render
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AT soledadsacristan associationandhostselectivityinmultihostpathogens
AT aurorafraile associationandhostselectivityinmultihostpathogens
AT fernandogarciaarenal associationandhostselectivityinmultihostpathogens