Host–Pathogen Coevolution: The Selective Advantage of Bacillus thuringiensis Virulence and Its Cry Toxin Genes

• Published in: PLoS biology Vol. 13; no. 6; p. e1002169
• Main Authors: Masri, Leila, Branca, Antoine, Sheppard, Anna E., Papkou, Andrei, Laehnemann, David, Guenther, Patrick S., Prahl, Swantje, Saebelfeld, Manja, Hollensteiner, Jacqueline, Liesegang, Heiko, Brzuszkiewicz, Elzbieta, Daniel, Rolf, Michiels, Nicolaas K., Schulte, Rebecca D., Kurtz, Joachim, Rosenstiel, Philip, Telschow, Arndt, Bornberg-Bauer, Erich, Schulenburg, Hinrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.06.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adaptation; Animals; Bacillus thuringiensis - genetics; Bacillus thuringiensis - pathogenicity; Bacteria; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Biological Evolution; Caenorhabditis elegans - microbiology; Evolution; Funding; Genes; Genome, Bacterial; Genomes; Genomics; Genotype; Host-Pathogen Interactions - genetics; Insect Proteins; Phenotype; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Selection, Genetic; Virulence

Reciprocal coevolution between host and pathogen is widely seen as a major driver of evolution and biological innovation. Yet, to date, the underlying genetic mechanisms and associated trait functions that are unique to rapid coevolutionary change are generally unknown. We here combined experimental...