Projektnummer

0053862

Zusammenfassung

Microbial parasites are ubiquitous and infect all living beings. Recent advances in theoretical epidemiology highlight the role of immunodeficient hosts as "incubators" for novel pathogen strains. However, none of the predictions has been tested experimentally. Here, these hypotheses will be tested using the C. elegans model system. This nematode possesses naturally developed physiological defence mechanisms against pathogens, and offers an exceptional opportunity to study the evolutionary context of pathogen adaptation. This proposal integrates evolutionary biology with molecular biol...