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Coinfection with a virus constrains within-host infection load but increases transmission potential of a highly virulent fungal plant pathogen
  • Hanna Susi,
  • Suvi Sallinen,
  • Anna-Liisa Laine
Hanna Susi
University of Helsinki

Corresponding Author:hanna.susi@helsinki.fi

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Suvi Sallinen
University of Helsinki
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Anna-Liisa Laine
University of Helsinki
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Abstract

The trade-off between within-host infection load and transmission to new hosts is predicted to constrain pathogen evolution, and to maintain polymorphism in pathogen populations. The life-history stages and their correlations that underpin infection development may change under coinfection with other parasites as they compete for the same limited host resources. Cross-kingdom interactions are common among pathogens in both natural and cultivated systems yet their impact on disease ecology and evolution are rarely studied. Host plant Plantago lanceolata is naturally infected by both Phompopsis subordinaria, a seed killing fungus, as well as Plantago lanceolata latent virus (PlLV) in the Åland Islands, SW Finland. We performed an inoculation assay to test whether coinfection with PlLV affects performance of two P. subordinaria strains, and the correlation between within-host infection load and transmission potential. The strains differed in the measured life-history traits and their correlations. Moreover, we found that under virus coinfection, within-host infection load of P. subordinaria was lower but transmission potential was higher compared to strains under single infection. The negative correlation between within-host infection load and transmission potential detected under single infection became positive under coinfection with PlLV. In wild populations, within-host infection load was positively associated with within-population disease prevalence. Jointly, our results suggest that the trade-off between within-host infection load and transmission may be strain specific, and that the pathogen life-history that underpin epidemics may change depending on the diversity of infection, generating variation in disease dynamics.
07 Sep 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
08 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
08 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
16 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Jan 20221st Revision Received
08 Feb 2022Submission Checks Completed
08 Feb 2022Assigned to Editor
08 Feb 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Feb 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Mar 2022Published in Ecology and Evolution volume 12 issue 3. 10.1002/ece3.8673