Fit but rare? The pros and cons of being a virulent pathogen

Authors
Dye, C
Citation
C. Dye, Fit but rare? The pros and cons of being a virulent pathogen, TREND ECOL, 16(8), 2001, pp. 417-418
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
ISSN journal
01695347 → ACNP
Volume
16
Issue
8
Year of publication
2001
Pages
417 - 418
Database
ISI
SICI code
0169-5347(200108)16:8<417:FBRTPA>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
Why are some infections more harmful to their hosts than others? Nick Day a nd colleagues have now found that the invasive Staphylococcus aureus diseas e is caused by bacterial genotypes that are disproportionately common. Beca use these genotypes are relatively abundant in clinically severe cases, the authors argue that virulence is linked to ecological fitness.