The unseen adaptation of a non-native: A unique spatiotemporal study of infection dynamics and immunogenetics at a bioinvasion front

Projektinformationen

INVASIMMUN

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 749312

DOI

10.3030/749312

Das Projekt endete am 12 September 2019

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 15 November 2017

Startdatum 1 Januar 2018

Enddatum 31 Dezember 2019

Finanziert unter

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Gesamtkosten

€ 187 866,00

EU-Beitrag

€ 187 866,00

Koordiniert durch

THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INVASIMMUN (The unseen adaptation of a non-native: A unique spatiotemporal study of infection dynamics and immunogenetics at a bioinvasion front)

Berichtszeitraum: 2018-01-01 bis 2019-12-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are an increasing threat to global health and there is an urgent need to understand the processes involved in their spread. The majority of EIDs originate from wildlife, for example the recent outbreaks of ebola, zika virus and lassa fever. One of the primary drivers of EIDs is human intervention via host or parasite translocations. A unique opportunity to study the processes involved in EIDs, currently exists in Ireland due to the introduction of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), via Germany in the 1920’s. The continuing range expansion of the bank vole within Ireland presents a natural large-scale perturbation experiment, with empirical data and known expansion routes already available. The primary objective of the proposal is to conduct a spatiotemporal study analysing the infection dynamics of native and invasive species. A temporal study will allow the process of adaptation, as the invasive species becomes established, to be observed for the first time

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

This study used the Irish Myodes glareolus model to conduct a spatiotemporal study analysing the parasite dynamics of native and invasive species throughout their range. M. glareolus and native Apodemus sylvaticus were trapped in woodlands across Ireland and surveyed for their helminth parasites. M. glareolus in Ireland were found to have lower parasite diversity in comparison to records of M. glareolus from across Europe and A. sylvaticus in Ireland. Increased density of M. glareolus resulted in a dilution effect, with significantly lower levels of parasitism overall in native hosts, where M. glareolus has been established longest. However, three helminth parasite species of A. sylvaticus increased in abundance in the presence of M. glareolus. Furthermore, M. glareolus at the expansion front were less parasitised than M. glareolus from the core population. This “enemy release” is believed to be mediating the continued successful spread of the invader across Ireland. Our results identify two important variables, seasonality and the stage of the invasion, which should not be overlooked when investigating or managing the changing distribution of hosts and their parasites.

Metagenomic of harmful bacteria also revealed an enemy release effect in M. glareolus in comparison to Irish woodmice and French bank voles (endemic range). Genera of bacteria of medical and veterinary importance were also detected. RNA was also extracted and libraries were made for immunological investigations.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

Studies of bio-invasions and parasite transmission have primarily focused on the invasive host species or the native host species in cases where virulent pathogen spillover is observed. Our results demonstrate how the concurrent study of invasive and native hosts and the careful identification of their parasite communities allows the dynamic processes influencing the parasite component and intracommunity to be identified.

Parasites found showing the invasive vole has less than native woodmouse