"Microbial diversity and rapid evolution in host-pathogen interactions", Kayla King, Professor of Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford
Many animal and plant species harbour a diverse microbiota that can suppress pathogen infection. These ‘protective microbes’ can form a significant component of host defence. By experimentally evolving multiple microbial systems (e.g., worms, bacteria, viruses), my group has demonstrated that host-associated microbes can rapidly evolve to defend their animal hosts against infection by endemic and novel pathogens. We show that within-host microbial diversity can drive major changes in the evolutionary dynamics underlying pathogen virulence and host immunity, and can alter host-pathogen coevolution. Our future research will continue to tackle the role of biodiversity, as well as climate variation, in shaping infection outcomes during pathogen emergence and over evolutionary time.