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dc.contributor.authorFrost, Paul C.
dc.contributor.authorDieter, Ebert
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Val H.
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-10T22:31:18Z
dc.date.available2015-02-10T22:31:18Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.identifier.citationFrost, P. C., Ebert, D., & Smith, V. H. (2008). Responses of a bacterial pathogen to phosphorus limitation of its aquatic invertebrate host. Ecology, 89(2), 313–318.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/07-0389.1
en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1808/16641
dc.description.abstractHost nutrition is thought to affect the establishment, persistence, and severity of pathogenic infections. Nutrient-deficient foods possibly benefit pathogens by constraining host immune function or benefit hosts by limiting parasite growth and reproduction. However, the effects of poor elemental food quality on a host’s susceptibility to infection and disease have received little study. Here we show that the bacterial microparasite Pasteuria ramosa is affected by the elemental nutrition of its aquatic invertebrate host, Daphnia magna. We found that high food carbon : phosphorus (C:P) ratios significantly reduced infection rates of Pasteuria in Daphnia and led to lower within-host pathogen multiplication. In addition, greater virulent effects of bacterial infection on host reproduction were found in Daphniaconsuming P-deficient food. Poor Daphnia elemental nutrition thus reduced the growth and reproduction of its bacterial parasite, Pasteuria. The effects of poor host nutrition on the pathogen were further evidenced by Pasteuria’s greater inhibition of reproduction in P-limited Daphnia. Our results provide strong evidence that elemental food quality can significantly influence the incidence and intensity of infectious disease in invertebrate hosts.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipWe thank H. Foy, C. Hibbert, M. Kingsbury, S. McCarthy, and D. Woolnough for their assistance with the experiments. This work was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Trent University.en_US
dc.publisherThe Ecological Society of Americaen_US
dc.rightsCopyright by the Ecological Society of America
dc.subjectbacterial pathogenen_US
dc.subjectDaphniaen_US
dc.subjectecological stoichiometryen_US
dc.subjectelemental imbalanceen_US
dc.subjectinfectious diseaseen_US
dc.subjectlife-historyen_US
dc.subjectPasteuria ramosaen_US
dc.titleResponses of a bacterial pathogen to phosphorus limitation of its aquatic invertebrate hosten_US
dc.typeArticle
kusw.kuauthorSmith, Val H.
kusw.kudepartmentDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biologyen_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1890/07-0389.1
kusw.oaversionScholarly/refereed, publisher version
kusw.oapolicyThis item does not meet KU Open Access policy criteria.
dc.rights.accessrightsopenAccess


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