title: Rapid evolution of antimicrobial peptide genes in an insect host-social parasite system.
abstract: Selection, as a major driver for evolution in host-parasite interactions, may act on two levels; the virulence of the pathogen, and the hosts' defence system. Effectors of the host defence system might evolve faster than other genes e.g. those involved in adaptation to changes in life history or environmental fluctuations. Host-parasite interactions at the level of hosts and their specific social parasites, present a special setting for evolutionarily driven selection, as both share the same environmental conditions and pathogen pressures. Here, we study the evolution of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes, in six host bumblebee and their socially parasitic cuckoo bumblebee species. The selected AMP genes evolved much faster than non-immune genes, but only defensin-1 showed significant differences between host and social parasite. Nucleotide diversity and codon-by-codon analyses confirmed that purifying selection is the main selective force acting on bumblebee defence genes.
authors: Institut für Biologie, Molekulare Ökologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 4, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany. Electronic address: erler.silvio@gmail.com.
authors: Silvio
authors: S
authors: Erler
authors: Laboratoire de Zoologie, Université de Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium. Electronic address: patrick_lhomme@hotmail.fr.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Lhomme
authors: Laboratoire de Zoologie, Université de Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.rasmont@umons.ac.be.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Rasmont
authors: Institut für Biologie, Molekulare Ökologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 4, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: michael.lattorff@zoologie.uni-halle.de.
authors: H Michael G
authors: HM
authors: Lattorff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D001516:Bees / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D019476:Insect Proteins
keywords: Bombus; Bumblebee; Co-evolution; Host–parasite; Innate immunity; Social insect