Nature Communications (Sep 2021)

Neofunctionalization of an ancient domain allows parasites to avoid intraspecific competition by manipulating host behaviour

  • Jiani Chen,
  • Gangqi Fang,
  • Lan Pang,
  • Yifeng Sheng,
  • Qichao Zhang,
  • Yuenan Zhou,
  • Sicong Zhou,
  • Yueqi Lu,
  • Zhiguo Liu,
  • Yixiang Zhang,
  • Guiyun Li,
  • Min Shi,
  • Xuexin Chen,
  • Shuai Zhan,
  • Jianhua Huang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25727-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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Evolutionary arms races can drive adaptations in hosts and parasites as well as among competing parasites. A combination of multi-omics and functional tests identifies a set of genes that allow a parasitic wasp to minimize intraspecific competition by inducing hosts to escape before more wasps can parasitize them.