A multihost bacterial pathogen overcomes continuous population bottlenecks to adapt to new host species.

Bacigalupe, R., Tormo-Mas, M. Á., Penades, J. R. and Fitzgerald, J. R. (2019) A multihost bacterial pathogen overcomes continuous population bottlenecks to adapt to new host species. Science Advances, 5(11), eaax0063. (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax0063) (PMID:31807698) (PMCID:PMC6881152)

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Abstract

While many bacterial pathogens are restricted to single host species, some have the capacity to undergo host switches, leading to the emergence of new clones that are a threat to human and animal health. However, the bacterial traits that underpin a multihost ecology are not well understood. Following transmission to a new host, bacterial populations are influenced by powerful forces such as genetic drift that reduce the fixation rate of beneficial mutations, limiting the capacity for host adaptation. Here, we implement a novel experimental model of bacterial host switching to investigate the ability of the multihost pathogen to adapt to new species under continuous population bottlenecks. We demonstrate that beneficial mutations accumulated during infection can overcome genetic drift and sweep through the population, leading to host adaptation. Our findings highlight the remarkable capacity of some bacteria to adapt to distinct host niches in the face of powerful antagonistic population forces.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The study was supported by a project grant (BB/K00638X/1) and institute strategic grant funding ISP2: BB/P013740/1 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (United Kingdom) to J.R.F.; grant MR/N02995X/1 from the Medical Research Council (United Kingdom) to J.R.F; Wellcome Trust collaborative award 201531/Z/16/Z to J.R.F. and J.R.P.; grants MR/M003876/1 and MR/S00940X/1 from the Medical Research Council (United Kingdom); BB/N002873/1 and BB/S003835/1 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC; United Kingdom); ERC-ADG-2014 proposal no. 670932 Dut-signal from EU to J.R.P.; and grants RTA2011-00139-00-00 from the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria of Spain and SAF2017-82251-R and CSD2009-00006 from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades of Spain to M.Á.T.-M. J.R.P. is thankful to the Royal Society and the Wolfson Foundation for providing support through a Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Penades, Prof Jose R
Authors: Bacigalupe, R., Tormo-Mas, M. Á., Penades, J. R., and Fitzgerald, J. R.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Science Advances
Publisher:American Association for the Advancement of Science
ISSN:2375-2548
ISSN (Online):2375-2548

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
173671Prof. R. Fitzgerald. Wellcome Trust Award 201531/Z/16/Z - Understanding bacterial host adaptation to combat infectious diseasesJose R PenadesWellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)201531/Z/16/ZInstitute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation
170721Molecular biology of the PICIs, a novel and widespread family of mobile genetic elements involved in bacterial virulenceJose R PenadesMedical Research Council (MRC)MR/M003876/1III - Bacteriology - Dr J Penades
172242Understanding a novel mechanim involving pathogenity islands in the transfer of unlinked chromosomal virulence genesJose R PenadesBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/N002873/1Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation
302971Helper and satellite pathogenicity islands: the discovery of two novel subcellular elements with a huge impact on bacterial pathogenesis and evolutionJose R PenadesBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/S003835/1III - Bacteriology
172321DUT-SignalJose R PenadesEuropean Research Council (ERC)670932Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation