Understanding the evolution of host-microbe associations through the lens of existing evolutionary theory
Abstract: Host-associated bacteria are found across the tree of life and can have crucial influences on the performance of their hosts. Despite the clear importance of such intimate host-microbe associations for individual hosts, it remains a mystery how and when these associations are established, and how these may impact host evolution and adaptation. This knowledge gap is partly due to the lack of theoretical frameworks that capture the evolutionary dynamics of host-microbiome systems. I explore to what extent the foundation for such frameworks lies in existing evolutionary theory. I merge insights from classical population genetics, quantitative genetics and evolutionary ecology to highlight three key drivers that shape the fate of a host-microbe association: Chance, host life history and ecological context. Further, I illustrate how frameworks such as niche construction and multilevel selection capture key aspects of host-microbiome evolution, while also emphasizing processes unique to host-microbe assemblages, for instance focusing on nuances in microbiome transmission and their evolutionary implications. Altogether, by seeking general principles emerging from broad features of host and microbe, and benefiting from the wealth of theory existing the field of evolutionary biology, this work paves the way for future empirical tests to unravel the origin, function and evolution of the vast ubiquity of the host-microbe associations surrounding us.
Homepage Prof Dr Marjolein Bruijning
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