Antibiotic-driven escape of host in a parasite-induced Red Queen dynamics

Winnerless coevolution of hosts and parasites could exhibit Red Queen dynamics, which is characterized by parasite-driven cyclic switching of expressed host phenotypes. We hypothesize that the application of antibiotics to suppress the reproduction of parasites can provide opportunity for the hosts to escape such winnerless coevolution. Here, we formulate a minimal mathematical model of host-parasite interaction involving multiple host phenotypes that are targeted by adapting parasites. Our model predicts the levels of antibiotic effectiveness that can steer the parasite-driven cyclic switching of host phenotypes (oscillations) to a stable equilibrium of host survival. Our simulations show that uninterrupted application of antibiotic with high-level effectiveness (>85%) is needed to escape the Red Queen dynamics. Interrupted and low level of antibiotic effectiveness are indeed useless to stop host-parasite coevolution. This study can be a guide in designing good practices and protoco...

宿主与寄生虫的无胜负共进化可呈现红皇后动力学（Red Queen dynamics），其特征为寄生虫驱动的宿主表达表型（host phenotypes）的周期性切换。本研究提出如下假说：施用抗生素以抑制寄生虫繁殖，可使宿主获得摆脱此类无胜负共进化的契机。本文构建了一个包含多种宿主表型的宿主-寄生虫互作极简数学模型，这些表型会被适应性寄生虫靶向攻击。模型预测了可将寄生虫驱动的宿主表型周期性切换（振荡，oscillations）引导至宿主存活的稳定平衡态的抗生素有效水平。模拟结果显示，要摆脱红皇后动力学，需持续施用有效性高于85%的高水平抗生素。间断施用抗生素或采用低有效性抗生素，均无法终止宿主-寄生虫的共进化过程。本研究可为合理实践规范与实验方案（protoco…）的设计提供参考。