TY - JOUR
T1 - Application of the theory of adaptive polymorphism to the ecology and epidemiology of pathogenic yeasts
AU - Hunter, P.R.
AU - Fraser, C.A.M.
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - The theory of adaptive polymorphism predicts that species occupying broad ecological niches will be phenotypically and genotypically more varied that those occupying narrow niches. It is suggested that this theory has direct relevance to the epidemiology of microbial pathogens in that environmental pathogens inhabit a broader niche and should be expected to exhibit greater variation than pathogens that are obligate commensals. This proved to be the case when one obligate commensal, the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, was compared with other Candida spp. and an environmental pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans. Further evidence of this relationship is derived from the literature. This observation adds further support to the theory of adaptive polymorphism, although the mechanisms of maintenance of polymorphism in asexually reproducing populations must be different from those in sexually reproducing populations. This observation may give important clues to the epidemiology of those infections for which it is not already known.
AB - The theory of adaptive polymorphism predicts that species occupying broad ecological niches will be phenotypically and genotypically more varied that those occupying narrow niches. It is suggested that this theory has direct relevance to the epidemiology of microbial pathogens in that environmental pathogens inhabit a broader niche and should be expected to exhibit greater variation than pathogens that are obligate commensals. This proved to be the case when one obligate commensal, the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, was compared with other Candida spp. and an environmental pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans. Further evidence of this relationship is derived from the literature. This observation adds further support to the theory of adaptive polymorphism, although the mechanisms of maintenance of polymorphism in asexually reproducing populations must be different from those in sexually reproducing populations. This observation may give important clues to the epidemiology of those infections for which it is not already known.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0025198747&partnerID=MN8TOARS
U2 - 10.1128/aem.56.7.2219-2222.1990
DO - 10.1128/aem.56.7.2219-2222.1990
M3 - Article
SN - 0099-2240
VL - 56
JO - Applied and Environmental Microbiology
JF - Applied and Environmental Microbiology
IS - 7
ER -