Selection for increased post-infection survival ameliorates mating induced immune suppression in Drosophila melanogaster females

Sexual activity (mating) negatively affects immune function in various insect species, in both sexes. In the experiments reported in this manuscript, we tested if hosts adapted to regular pathogen challenges are less susceptible to mating-induced immune suppression, using experimentally evolved Drosophila melanogaster populations selected for increased post-infection survival when infected with a Gram-positive bacterium, Enterococcus faecalis. Mating increased the susceptibility of females to bacterial pathogens but in a pathogen-specific manner. Mating-induced increase in susceptibility was also affected by host evolutionary history, with females from selected populations exhibiting similar post-infection survival irrespective of mating status, while females from control populations became more susceptible to bacterial infections after mating. Post-infection survival of males, irrespective of their evolutionary history, was not affected by their mating status. We, therefore, conclude t..., , , # Selection for increased post-infection survival ameliorates mating induced immune suppression in Drosophila melanogaster females

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fbg79cnxn](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fbg79cnxn)

## Description of the data and file structure

This file (\"malesEf.csv\") was generated in 2019 by Aabeer Basu and others at the Evolutionary Biology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Mohali.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of Dataset: \"Selection for increased post-infection survival ameliorates mating induced immune suppression in Drosophila melanogaster females\"
2. Author Information

A. Principal Investigator Contact Information

Name: Prof. N. G. Prasad

Institution: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali

Address: IISER Mohali, Sector 81, Knowledge City, SAS Nagar, Punjab - 140306, India.

Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information

Name: Aabeer Basu

Institution: I...