Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution

Abstract Stochastic phenotype switching has been suggested to play a beneficial role in microbial populations by leading to the division of labour among cells, or ensuring that at least some of the population survives an unexpected change in environmental conditions. Here we use a computational mode...

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Autores principales:	Andrew C. Tadrowski, Martin R. Evans, Bartlomiej Waclaw
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2018
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/122cdf6f562c4d23854e2474bd0d039c
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:122cdf6f562c4d23854e2474bd0d039c2021-12-02T15:08:38ZPhenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution10.1038/s41598-018-27095-92045-2322https://doaj.org/article/122cdf6f562c4d23854e2474bd0d039c2018-06-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27095-9https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Stochastic phenotype switching has been suggested to play a beneficial role in microbial populations by leading to the division of labour among cells, or ensuring that at least some of the population survives an unexpected change in environmental conditions. Here we use a computational model to investigate an alternative possible function of stochastic phenotype switching: as a way to adapt more quickly even in a static environment. We show that when a genetic mutation causes a population to become less fit, switching to an alternative phenotype with higher fitness (growth rate) may give the population enough time to develop compensatory mutations that increase the fitness again. The possibility of switching phenotypes can reduce the time to adaptation by orders of magnitude if the “fitness valley” caused by the deleterious mutation is deep enough. Our work has important implications for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In line with recent experimental findings, we hypothesise that switching to a slower growing — but less sensitive — phenotype helps bacteria to develop resistance by providing alternative, faster evolutionary routes to resistance.Andrew C. TadrowskiMartin R. EvansBartlomiej WaclawNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2018)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Andrew C. Tadrowski Martin R. Evans Bartlomiej Waclaw Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution
description	Abstract Stochastic phenotype switching has been suggested to play a beneficial role in microbial populations by leading to the division of labour among cells, or ensuring that at least some of the population survives an unexpected change in environmental conditions. Here we use a computational model to investigate an alternative possible function of stochastic phenotype switching: as a way to adapt more quickly even in a static environment. We show that when a genetic mutation causes a population to become less fit, switching to an alternative phenotype with higher fitness (growth rate) may give the population enough time to develop compensatory mutations that increase the fitness again. The possibility of switching phenotypes can reduce the time to adaptation by orders of magnitude if the “fitness valley” caused by the deleterious mutation is deep enough. Our work has important implications for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In line with recent experimental findings, we hypothesise that switching to a slower growing — but less sensitive — phenotype helps bacteria to develop resistance by providing alternative, faster evolutionary routes to resistance.
format	article
author	Andrew C. Tadrowski Martin R. Evans Bartlomiej Waclaw
author_facet	Andrew C. Tadrowski Martin R. Evans Bartlomiej Waclaw
author_sort	Andrew C. Tadrowski
title	Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution
title_short	Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution
title_full	Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution
title_fullStr	Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution
title_full_unstemmed	Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution
title_sort	phenotypic switching can speed up microbial evolution
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2018
url	https://doaj.org/article/122cdf6f562c4d23854e2474bd0d039c
work_keys_str_mv	AT andrewctadrowski phenotypicswitchingcanspeedupmicrobialevolution AT martinrevans phenotypicswitchingcanspeedupmicrobialevolution AT bartlomiejwaclaw phenotypicswitchingcanspeedupmicrobialevolution
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Phenotypic Switching Can Speed up Microbial Evolution

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