Data from: A biological invasion modifies host immune responses to parasite infection
Data files
Aug 22, 2024 version files 51.87 KB
Abstract
Biological invasions can disrupt the close and longstanding co-evolved relationships between host and parasites. At the same time, the shifting selective forces acting on demograpy during invasion can result in rapid evolution of traits in both host and parasite. Hosts at the invasion front may reduce investment into costly immune defences and redistribute those resources to other fitness-enhancing traits. Parasites at the invasion front may have reduced pathogenicity because traits that negatively impact host dispersal are left behind in the expanding range. The host’s immune system is its primary arsenal in the coevolutionary ‘arms race’ with parasites. To assess the effects of invasion history on immune responses to parasite infection we conducted a cross-infection experiment which paired common-garden reared cane toads and lungworm parasites originating from various sites in their invaded range across northern Australia. Infected toads had larger spleens and higher concentrations of eosinophils than did uninfected toads. Infected toads also exhibited lower bacteria-killing ability, perhaps reflecting a trade-off of resources towards defences that are more specifically anthelminthic. The impact of infection intensity on multiple immune measures differed among toads and parasites from different parts of the invasion trajectory, supporting the hypothesis that invasion has disrupted patterns of local adaptation.
README: Data from: A biological invasion modifies host immune responses to parasite infection
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x69p8czsf
Description of the data and file structure
Data are from an experiment where cane toads from different sites were exposed to lungworm parasites from different sites. Toad immune responses to infection were then measured. Cells with n/a indicate missing or undefined data.
ID – Individual ID code
infection treatment- Control or exposed to parasites from one of 6 sites
litter- ID code indicating family origin of each toad
toad_site- location from which each toads parents were captured
toad_state- Australian state each capture location was in
Exposed to Rhabdias?- Yes vs No variable to indicate whether toad was exposed to Rhabdias or served as an unexposed Control
worm_state- Australian state where the capture site of parasite donor toad was located
became infected?- Yes vs No indication of whether parasites were present in the lungs at dissection
immune assay date- date of euthanasia, dissection and immune assays
SVL- snout to vent length (mm) measure of body size at time of euthanasia
Mass- body mass (g) at time of euthanasia
#Rhabdias in lungs- Number of parasites in the lungs at dissection
Spleen length mm- length of spleen at dissection
Allen BKA index- Allen bacteria killing index (% change)
mean luminesence RLU- Average luminescence reading during phagocytosis assay (relative luminescence units)
log mn lumin for figure- log transformed mean luminescence
wbc_conc- white blood cell concentration (cells/ml)
Eo_conc- eosinophil concentration (cells/ml)
Baso_conc- basophil concentration (cells/ml)
Lympho_conc- lymphocyte concentration (cells/ml)
Neut_conc- neutrophil concentration (cells/ml)
Methods
Data are measures and identifying information for individual cane toads (Rhinella marina) experimentally infected with a lungworm parasite ( Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala.)