The evolution of virulence in spore forming parasites

• Applicant: Charlotte Rafaluk-Mohr, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 503940332

After entering the tomb of Tutankhamun, Lord Carnarvon died suddenly and mysteriously. Legend says he was killed by an ancient curse. Microbiology provides an alternative explanation. Many parasites (here including pathogens such as bacteria and fungi and macroparasites such as nematode worms) produce environmentally persistent stages or spores. The production of these stages comes with a number of evolutionary and ecological consequences. Normally parasites must keep their hosts relatively healthy to ensure they come into contact with new hosts, allowing them to spread. This can mean they replicate less, as replication often harms the host. Environmentally persistent parasites are different as they are able to rapidly kill their hosts then wait in the environment for new hosts to arrive. I will test whether spore longevity can be selected for and whether increased spore longevity correlates with changing harm to hosts. The experiments will help us to understand the causes and consequences of spore production, an area previously unexplored, with broad implications for our understanding of disease and virulence evolution and will help to explain patterns we see in nature.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Thomas Degenkolb