Evolutionary and proximate mechanisms shaping host-parasite interactions

David DUNEAU 
UMR5174 - Laboratoire Evolution et Diversite Biologique, Toulouse - david.duneau@univ-tlse3.fr

(Seminar in English)

My work pertains to understanding the evolution of disease by disentangling host-parasite interactions in their successive steps. Taking this approach at proximate and evolutionary levels, I am particularly interested in the impact of host sexual dimorphism on parasite evolution. Parasitism is one of the most abundant lifestyles and antagonistic interactions between hosts and parasites are a key structuring force in natural populations of all organisms, including humans. The successful infection of one host by a parasite depends on a sequence of steps that can often be difficult to disentangle. I will show that different consecutive steps in the infection process can make different contributions to shaping the outcome of host-parasite interactions, including coevolution. I will focus notably on the step where parasites proliferate within the host. I will show that this part of infection process is composed of several important steps that are each crucial for infection success. After investigating sexual dimorphism in immunity of Drosophila melanogaster, I will also outline the role of host sexual dimorphism for parasite evolution and its potential implications for infectious disease ecology.

Recent publications:

Duneau D, Ferdy JB, Revah J, Kondolf HC, Ortiz GA, Lazzaro BP, Buchon N. (2017) Stochastic variation in the initial phase of bacterial infection predicts the probability of survival in D. melanogaster. eLife 6: e28298

Ebert D, Duneau D, Hall M, Luijckx P, Andras J, Du Pasquier L, Ben-Ami F. (2016) A population biology perspective on the stepwise infection process of the bacterial pathogen Pasteuria ramosa in Daphnia. J of advanced parasitology 91: 265-310

Duneau D, Luijckx P, Ruder L, Ebert D (2012) Sex-specific effects of a parasite evolving in a female-biased host population BMC Biology 10: 104

Duneau D, Ebert D (2012) Host sexual dimorphism and parasite adaptation PLoS Biology 10: 2