Host adaptation to viruses relies on few genes with different cross-resistance properties.
Host adaptation to one parasite may affect its response to others. However, the genetics of these direct and correlated responses remains poorly studied. The overlap between these responses is instrumental for the understanding of host evolution in multiparasite environments. We determined the genetic and phenotypic changes underlying adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster to Drosophila C virus (DCV). Within 20 generations, flies selected with DCV showed increased survival after DCV infection, but also after cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) and flock house virus (FHV) infection. Whole-genome sequencing identified two regions of significant differentiation among treatments, from which candidate genes were functionally tested with RNAi. Three genes were validated--pastrel, a known DCV-response gene, and two other loci, Ubc-E2H and CG8492. Knockdown of Ubc-E2H and pastrel also led to increased sensitivity to CrPV, whereas knockdown of CG8492 increased susceptibility to FHV infection. Therefore, Drosophila adaptation to DCV relies on few major genes, each with different cross-resistance properties, conferring host resistance to several parasites.
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal.
Nelson E
NE
Martins
Vítor G
VG
Faria
Viola
V
Nolte
Christian
C
Schlötterer
Luis
L
Teixeira
Élio
É
Sucena
Sara
S
Magalhães
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000235:genetics*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D010271:Parasites / Q000276:immunology; D034622:RNA Interference; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
Drosophila immunity; evolve and resequence; experimental evolution; host–parasite interactions