Evolutionary consequences of vector-borne transmission: how using vectors shapes host, vector and pathogen evolution

Abstract

Transmission mode is a key factor that influences host–parasite coevolution. Vector-borne pathogens are among the most important disease agents for humans and wildlife due to their broad distribution, high diversity, prevalence and lethality. They comprise some of the most important and widespread human pathogens, such as yellow fever, leishmania and malaria. Vector-borne parasites (in this review, those transmitted by blood-feeding Diptera) follow unique transmission routes towards their vertebrate hosts. Consequently, each part of this tri-partite (i.e. parasite, vector and host) interaction can influence co- and counter-evolutionary pressures among antagonists. This mode of transmission may favour the evolution of greater virulence to the vertebrate host; however, pathogen–vector interactions can also have a broad spectrum of fitness costs to the insect vector. To complete their life cycle, vector-borne pathogens must overcome immune responses from 2 unrelated organisms, since they can activate responses in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, possibly creating a trade-off between investments against both types of immunity. Here, we assess how dipteran vector-borne transmission shapes the evolution of hosts, vectors and the pathogens themselves. Hosts, vectors and pathogens co-evolve together in a constant antagonistic arms race with each participant's primary goal being to maximize its performance and fitness.

Network specificity decreases community stability and competition among avian haemosporidian parasites and their hosts

“…Global change can directly affect the distribution and behaviour of both parasites and their hosts (Atkinson et al., 2014; Cable et al., 2017; Carlson et al., 2017; de Angeli Dutra, Poulin, et al., 2022; Ortega‐Guzmán et al., 2022). For parasites, rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation patterns can influence their transmission rate, and, as a result, their incidence (Atkinson et al., 2014; Mordecai et al., 2013, 2020; Ryan et al., 2019).…”

N6-methyltubercidin gives sterile cure in a cutaneous Leishmania amazonensis mouse model

“…The disease development is dependent on several factors such as malnutrition, poor housing and deficient sanitary conditions, host and parasite genetics, environmental and climate changes, co-infections, among others. In fact, there is a straight correlation between poverty and NTDs, keeping alive the poverty-disease cycle (Teixeira-Neto et al ., 2014 ; de Angeli Dutra et al ., 2022 ; de Vries and Schallig, 2022 ).…”

Assessing global drivers of parasite diversity: host diversity and body mass boost avian haemosporidian diversity

“…more productive and stable regions), a trend known as the Latitudinal Diversity Gradient (Hillebrand, 2004 ; Rull, 2011 ). Environmental features can directly or indirectly affect parasite life cycles depending on their life strategy (de Angeli Dutra et al ., 2022 b ). Vector-borne parasite distribution is often associated with climate conditions, due to, for example, thermal constraints in parasite development (Lapointe et al ., 2010 ; Mordecai et al ., 2013 ).…”