Host genetics and the skin microbiome independently predict parasite resistance

Host responses to parasite infection involve several interacting systems. Host genetics determine much of the response, but it is increasingly clear that the host-associated microbiome also plays a role. Genetically determined systems and the microbiome can also interact; for example, the microbiome can modulate the immune response, and vice versa. However, it remains unclear how such interactions between the host immune system and the microbiome may influence the host’s overall response to parasites. To investigate how host genetics and the microbiome interact to shape responses to parasites, we imposed truncation selection on Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) for low and high resistance to the specialist ectoparasite Gyrodactylus turnbulli. After 3-6 generations of breeding without parasites, we sampled the skin-associated microbiome and infected fish from each line. We applied Dirichlet Multinomial Modeling (DMM) machine-learning to identify bacterial community types across l..., , # Data from: Host genetics and the skin microbiome independently predict parasite resistance

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.zs7h44jmn](10.5061/dryad.zs7h44jmn)

## Description of the data and file structure

In this study, we wanted to understand how certain factors can affect the outcome of parasitic infections. These factors include artificial selection, the gender of the fish, and the community of microorganisms living on the fish's skin.

To set up the artificial selection process, we infected 200 *Poecilia reticulata* fish (half male and half female) with a parasite called *Gyrodactylus turnbulli*. We closely monitored the infection, then divided the fish into two groups: one group with the top 30 % of fish having the highest average worm burden (susceptible line) and the other group with the bottom 30 % of fish having the lowest average worm burden (resistance line). We also had control groups that were made up of uninfected fish randomly selected from the same population. Data on t...,