Happy Easter,  Folks!



 So far, we've covered two types of coevolution. Predator and prey, as with the snake and lizard, and host and symbiont, as with the wolves & humans. Today, we will discuss a third type: host and parasite evolution.

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Host-parasite coevolution refers to complementary genetic change of two opponents driven by mutual selective pressure. Both species are constantly trying to get the better of each other, but reciprocal adaptations make it almost impossible for one side to get the upper hand.

Host-parasite evolution is important across a range of fields including wildlife ecology and agriculture. but perhaps one of its most outstanding features, is that it is opening a door to studying disease in the medical field.

Many fatal human diseases like influenza, AIDs, and malaria have been known to be constantly evolving, and thereby evading the treatments or vaccinations against them. Scientists want to further understand the intricacies of the interactions of diseases with the human immune system and their coevolution patterns to be able to make effective more effective treatment and perhaps an innovative solution to protect human lives.

The problem is that studying and validating coevolution with disease is a difficult thing to do. Demonstrating co-evolution is difficult because the world of science has inadequate "understanding of either the genetics or molecular basis of the host–pathogen interaction; involve-ment of polygenic traits; fitness constraints on these traits, including constraints imposed by simultaneous interactions with multiple hosts or multiple pathogens; phenotypic plasticity; and the long time scales involved" (Woodhouse et al 2002). So what are the solutions? Find concrete evidence of human-pathogen coevolution, of course. But to do this there need to be new modern approaches to how we search for  and detect coevolution. Woodhouse et al suggests that one way to do this is to look to the molecules for clues. That is, search for changes in each species' genes that are involved in interaction between the two. Reciprocal polymorphisms in the genes could provide evidence that the host and pathogen are coevolving and reacting to the other's adaptations over time. 

I brought this to you readers because I am interested to know...

 Do you think humans can "win" over pathogens by science and wit alone? 

Will understanding the interactive foundations of host and pathogen and consequent adaptations be a savior? What will this mean for the future of medicine or pathology?

Do medical "solutions" just drive disease to evolve faster and become more dangerous?


Overall, I think that our understanding needs to be deeper in this matter if we want to help save more lives in the present. That said, I'm not sure if humans are tempting nature or fate by trying to win an evolutionary battle thats been raging for thousands of years. Falsely thinking we have rid the world of a disease could make us more susceptible to an adaptation or mutation in the disease in the future. There is no doubt that there are some incredible medical innovations waiting to be invented.


Thanks for reading and comment below what YOU think on the matter. 

Have a great week,  

D

 

Reference:

Woolhouse, M. E., Webster, J. P., Domingo, E., Charlesworth, B., & Levin, B. R. (2002). Biological and biomedical implications of the co-evolution of pathogens and their hosts. Nature genetics, 32(4), 569-577.