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Modes of evolution in a parasite�host interaction: Dis-entangling factors determining the evolution of regulated fimbriation in e. coli
D. Chu
Biosystems, 95(1):182-196, December 2008 [doi].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.
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@article{2841,
author = {D. Chu},
title = {Modes of evolution in a parasite�host interaction: Dis-entangling factors determining the evolution of regulated fimbriation in E. coli},
month = {December},
year = {2008},
pages = {182-196},
keywords = {determinacy analysis, Craig interpolants},
note = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2008.07.001 },
url = {http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/pubs/2008/2841},
publication_type = {article},
submission_id = {21417_1228333863},
ISSN = {0303-2647},
journal = {Biosystems},
volume = {95},
number = {1},
publisher = {Elsevier},
}