Rapid evolution of microbe-mediated protection against pathogens in a worm host


King, KC, Brockhurst, MA, Vasieva, O, Paterson, S ORCID: 0000-0002-1307-2981, Betts, A, Ford, SA, Frost, CL ORCID: 0000-0002-4370-8741, Horsburgh, MJ ORCID: 0000-0002-3806-0039, Haldenby, S and Hurst, GDD ORCID: 0000-0002-7163-7784 (2016) Rapid evolution of microbe-mediated protection against pathogens in a worm host. ISME Journal, 10 (8). pp. 1915-1924.

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Abstract

Microbes can defend their host against virulent infections, but direct evidence for the adaptive origin of microbe-mediated protection is lacking. Using experimental evolution of a novel, tripartite interaction, we demonstrate that mildly pathogenic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis) living in worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) rapidly evolved to defend their animal hosts against infection by a more virulent pathogen (Staphylococcus aureus), crossing the parasitism–mutualism continuum. Host protection evolved in all six, independently selected populations in response to within-host bacterial interactions and without direct selection for host health. Microbe-mediated protection was also effective against a broad spectrum of pathogenic S. aureus isolates. Genomic analysis implied that the mechanistic basis for E. faecalis-mediated protection was through increased production of antimicrobial superoxide, which was confirmed by biochemical assays. Our results indicate that microbes living within a host may make the evolutionary transition to mutualism in response to pathogen attack, and that microbiome evolution warrants consideration as a driver of infection outcome.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Animals, Caenorhabditis elegans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Symbiosis, Female, Biological Evolution, Microbiota
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 06 Apr 2016 09:48
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2022 16:35
DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.259
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3000036
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