Abstract
Microorganisms play a significant role in the evolution and functioning of the eukaryotes with which they interact. Much of our understanding of beneficial host–microbe interactions stems from studying already established associations; we often infer the genotypic and environmental conditions that led to the existing host–microbe relationships. However, several outstanding questions remain, including understanding how host and microbial (internal) traits, and ecological and evolutionary (external) processes, influence the origin of beneficial host–microbe associations. Experimental evolution has helped address a range of evolutionary and ecological questions across different model systems; however, it has been greatly underutilized as a tool to study beneficial host–microbe associations. In this review, we suggest ways in which experimental evolution can further our understanding of the proximate and ultimate mechanisms shaping mutualistic interactions between eukaryotic hosts and microbes. By tracking beneficial interactions under defined conditions or evolving novel associations among hosts and microbes with little prior evolutionary interaction, we can link specific genotypes to phenotypes that can be directly measured. Moreover, this approach will help address existing puzzles in beneficial symbiosis research: how symbioses evolve, how symbioses are maintained, and how both host and microbe influence their partner’s evolutionary trajectories. By bridging theoretical predictions and empirical tests, experimental evolution provides us with another approach to test hypotheses regarding the evolution of beneficial host–microbe associations.
Highlights
Microorganisms inhabit hosts from all branches of life, from bacteria (Bondy-Denomy and Davidson, 2014) to plants (Heijden et al, 2015) and animals (Klepzig et al, 2009; Delsuc et al, 2014), including humans (Cho and Blaser, 2012; Eloe-Fadrosh and Rasko, 2013)
Important insights have resulted from studies of microbial symbiosis; there are still many questions that remain, as to how beneficial associations are initiated between hosts and microbes with little prior interaction or with few benefits exchanged between them initially
The experiments were testing specific theoretical predictions relating to hostparasite coevolution and local adaptation. These studies demonstrate the tractability and rapid evolution of eukaryotic hosts and their microbes, providing further evidence that model systems can be exploited for experimental evolution of beneficial host–microbe interactions
Summary
Microorganisms inhabit hosts from all branches of life, from bacteria (Bondy-Denomy and Davidson, 2014) to plants (Heijden et al, 2015) and animals (Klepzig et al, 2009; Delsuc et al, 2014), including humans (Cho and Blaser, 2012; Eloe-Fadrosh and Rasko, 2013). Important insights have resulted from studies of microbial symbiosis (here, defined as long-term host–microbe associations; Wilson et al, 2010; Sachs et al, 2011; Nyholm and Graf, 2012); there are still many questions that remain, as to how beneficial associations are initiated between hosts and microbes with little prior interaction or with few benefits exchanged between them initially. Identifying the biotic and abiotic factors in contextdependent interactions is important in evaluating the role of genetics and the environment in the evolution and maintenance of mutualisms (Jones et al, 2015) In their discussion of modes of beneficial behaviors, Sachs et al (2004) introduced the idea of a parasite that can prevent the establishment of a more harmful parasite within a host. By evolving populations under controlled conditions, we can empirically test theoretical predictions, generate new data to parameterize models and simulations, and establish patterns to test in natural populations
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