Data from: Heritability of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis burden and its genetic correlation with development time in a population of Common toad (Bufo spinosus)

Despite the important threat that emerging pathogens pose for the conservation of biodiversity as well as human health, very little is known about the adaptive potential of host species to withstand infections. We studied the quantitative genetic architecture responsible for the burden of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in a population of common toads in conjunction with other life-history traits (i.e. body size and development rate) which may be affected by common selective pressures. We found a significant heritable component that is associated with fungal burden, which may allow for local adaptation to this pathogen to proceed. In addition, the high genetic correlation found between fungal burden and development time suggests that both traits have to be taken into account in order to assess the adaptive response of host populations to this emerging pathogen.

尽管新兴病原体对生物多样性保护与人类健康构成了重大威胁，但学界对宿主物种抵御感染的适应潜力仍知之甚少。本研究针对普通蟾蜍种群中与真菌病原体蛙壶菌（Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis）负荷相关的数量遗传架构展开分析，并结合了可能受共同选择压力影响的其他生活史性状（即体型与发育速率）。研究发现，与真菌负荷相关的可遗传组分具有统计学显著性，这意味着宿主种群或可对该病原体产生局部适应。此外，本研究在真菌负荷与发育时长之间检测到高度遗传相关，这表明若要准确评估宿主种群对这种新兴病原体的适应响应，必须同时考量这两类性状。