Dietary protein mediates terminal investment in egg quantity or quality following bacterial gut infection in Drosophila

Abstract

16Organisms have evolved a range of behavioural and physiological responses which minimize 17 the impact of infection on fitness. When future reproductive potential is threatened, for 18 example, as a result of pathogenic infection, the terminal investment hypothesis predicts 19 that individuals will respond by investing preferentially in current reproduction. Terminal 20 investment involves reallocating resources to current reproductive effort, so it is likely to be 21 influenced by the quantity and quality of resources acquired through diet. Dietary protein 22 29 aeruginosa, while flies fed an isocaloric, lower protein diet did not increase the number of eggs 30 laid but instead showed an increase in egg-to-adult viability following infection. We discuss 31 the importance of considering diet and natural routes of infection when measuring non-32 immunological defenses. 33 34 35