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):67-74, 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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Bibtex Record

@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 = {67-74},
keywords = {},
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},
}