Anzia Elizabeth L, Rabajante Jomar F
Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.
R Soc Open Sci. 2018 Sep 12;5(9):180693. doi: 10.1098/rsos.180693. eCollection 2018 Sep.
Winnerless coevolution of hosts and parasites could exhibit Red Queen dynamics, which is characterized by parasite-driven cyclic switching of expressed host phenotypes. We hypothesize that the application of antibiotics to suppress the reproduction of parasites can provide an opportunity for the hosts to escape such winnerless coevolution. Here, we formulate a minimal mathematical model of host-parasite interaction involving multiple host phenotypes that are targeted by adapting parasites. Our model predicts the levels of antibiotic effectiveness that can steer the parasite-driven cyclic switching of host phenotypes (oscillations) to a stable equilibrium of host survival. Our simulations show that uninterrupted application of antibiotic with high-level effectiveness (greater than 85%) is needed to escape the Red Queen dynamics. Interrupted and low level of antibiotic effectiveness are indeed useless to stop host-parasite coevolution. This study can be a guide in designing good practices and protocols to minimize the risk of further progression of parasitic infections.
宿主与寄生虫的无胜者共同进化可能呈现红皇后动态，其特征是寄生虫驱动宿主表达表型的周期性切换。我们假设使用抗生素抑制寄生虫繁殖可为宿主提供逃脱这种无胜者共同进化的机会。在此，我们构建了一个宿主 - 寄生虫相互作用的最小数学模型，该模型涉及多种被适应性寄生虫靶向的宿主表型。我们的模型预测了抗生素有效性水平，这种有效性可引导寄生虫驱动的宿主表型周期性切换（振荡）至宿主生存的稳定平衡状态。我们的模拟表明，需要持续应用高效抗生素（大于85%）才能逃脱红皇后动态。抗生素有效性的中断和低效对抗阻止宿主 - 寄生虫共同进化确实毫无用处。本研究可为设计良好实践和方案提供指导，以尽量降低寄生虫感染进一步发展的风险。
