Phenotypic variation between naturally co-existing genotypes of a Lepidopteran baculovirus
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| Authors: | Hodgson, DJ; Vanbergen, AJ; Watt, AD; Hails, RS; Cory, JS |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Journal: | Evolutionary Ecology Research 3: 687-701 |
| Title: | Phenotypic variation between naturally co-existing genotypes of a Lepidopteran baculovirus |
| Abstract: | There is increasing evidence that populations of microparasites vary genotypically at a variety of spatial scales, including within host individuals. Understanding this fine-scale structuring of microparasite populations requires descriptions of the relative fitness of individual genotypes isolated from natural mixed infections. Here we examine whether differences between virus genotypes isolated from a single host individual translate into phenotypic differences, and discuss the processes by which such variation might be maintained. Twenty-five genotypic variants of a nucleopolyhedrovirus (Baculoviridae) have been identified and purified from a single pine beauty moth (Panolis flammea) larva. The phenotypes of four genotypes were compared. Genotypes differed in three phenotypic traits, each predicted to be an important component of fitness: pathogenicity, speed of kill and yield. Variation in pathogenicity was described by seven-fold differences in LD50 and by differences in the slopes of the fitted dose-response curves. Mean speed of kill of the genotypes differed by up to 36 h, Two genotypes produced 65% higher yields, over and above any differences predicted by a significant intra-genotypic relationship between yield and speed of kill. Inter-genotypic trade-offs between virus phenotypic traits, which could promote the co-existence of genotypes, were not found. Mechanisms that may promote the co-existence of competing virus genotypes are discussed. |
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