Student Scholars Day

Antagonistic Coevolution between a Bacteriophage and a Conjugative Plasmid

Kirkhof Center KC40

Co-evolution is a driving force for the diversification and adaptation of many types of organisms. One method which can directly show the effects of co-evolution is the phage-host model. It is made up of a bacterial host and a viral phage. As they interact, evolutionary change can be seen from one day to the next, making it a useful study tool. The interactions within the phage-host model can be described as antagonistic, due to the selective pressure both parties impose on the other. Traditionally phage-host models consist of a host which codes for the receptors used for infection by the phage. This can create a difference in the amount of evolutionary potential each has leading to the extinction of the phage. We are minimizing the difference; using a static host whose plasmid codes for the receptors. By reducing the selective pressure applied by the bacterial host, we can observe the antagonistic co-evolution occurring between two similarly sized genomes, the plasmid and the phage.