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Hunter, P.R. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5608-6144 and Fraser, C.A.M.
(1990)
Application of the theory of adaptive polymorphism to the ecology and epidemiology of pathogenic yeasts.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 56 (7).
ISSN 0099-2240
Abstract
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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Feb 2022 10:30 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Oct 2023 03:15 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/83731 |
| DOI: | 10.1128/aem.56.7.2219-2222.1990 |
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