Genomics Analysis Platform for the Bacillus-Invertebrate Cluster 

CLUSTER: „Experimental evolution and natural variation of Bacillus-invertebrate interactions“

Professor Dr. Philip Rosenstiel

Professor Dr. Hinrich Schulenburg

Host-parasite coevolution is predicted to have complex consequences on the genetic architecture of both interacting species. These consequences may relate to the mechanisms that (i) are of direct relevance to the interaction (e.g., resistance, pathogenicity), (ii) associate with a possible cost of co-adaptation (e.g. life-history trade-offs), or (iii) increase evolutionary rates (e.g., recombination). To date, we lack conclusive information on the genetics that underlie the coevolutionary process. The proposed Genomics Analysis Platform (GAP) aims at a comprehensive genetic analysis of organisms generated by the research projects of the Bacillus-Invertebrate Cluster (Appendix III) within the priority programme SPP 1399. These organisms stem from several evolution experiments and related natural samples, which specifically address the dynamics of reciprocal host-parasite coevolutionary adaptations. We will here focus on three completely sequenced model taxa, the micro-parasite Bacillus thuringiensis and two of its invertebrate hosts, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the insect Tribolium castaneum. These species are ideally accessible to an unbiased whole genome screening approach, which we will apply to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of coevolution.