Rapid evolutionary response to a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils

Brendan Epstein, Menna Jones, Rodrigo Hamede, Sarah Hendricks, Hamish McCallum, Elizabeth P. Murchison, Barbara Schönfeld, Cody Wiench, Paul Hohenlohe and Andrew Storfer ()
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Brendan Epstein: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University
Menna Jones: School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Rodrigo Hamede: School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Sarah Hendricks: Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho
Hamish McCallum: School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Elizabeth P. Murchison: University of Cambridge
Barbara Schönfeld: School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Cody Wiench: Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho
Paul Hohenlohe: Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho
Andrew Storfer: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Although cancer rarely acts as an infectious disease, a recently emerged transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) is virtually 100% fatal. Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) has swept across nearly the entire species’ range, resulting in localized declines exceeding 90% and an overall species decline of more than 80% in less than 20 years. Despite epidemiological models that predict extinction, populations in long-diseased sites persist. Here we report rare genomic evidence of a rapid, parallel evolutionary response to strong selection imposed by a wildlife disease. We identify two genomic regions that contain genes related to immune function or cancer risk in humans that exhibit concordant signatures of selection across three populations. DFTD spreads between hosts by suppressing and evading the immune system, and our results suggest that hosts are evolving immune-modulated resistance that could aid in species persistence in the face of this devastating disease.

Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12684

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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12684

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