Facultative pathogen virulence evolution and epidemiology

IMG_1067Faculative pathogens cause many important human and agricultural diseases. Despite this, most epidemiological models do not accurately capture their ecology. These organisms can maintain significant populations in non-host environments and consequently experience heterogeneous selective pressures. We are working to understand how ecological trade offs associated with the complex life history of faculative pathogens can influence pathogen evolution and epidemiology of the disease they cause.