Co-adaptation between host genome and microbiome under long-term herbicide exposure

One of the most important challenges today is to better understand the evolutionary dynamics shaping complex host-microbiome interactions. Using a multi-omics approach, we investigated host-microbiome co-diversification in response to xenobiotic-induced selection in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis through long-term exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of the herbicide atrazine. Our results reveal that atrazine exposure not only mediates adaptive changes within the microbiome, but also alters host metabolism, immunocompetence and genetic differentiation. While some of these effects may be due to the direct impact of xenobiotic-induced selection on the host, we also identify signatures of microbiome-driven changes in the host genome and gene expression, demonstrating that selection may act on both partners independently as well as in synergy.