Interspecific brood parasites exploit the parental care of host species. This exploitation entails fitness costs for the hosts, which favor the evolution of antiparasitic defenses. Host defenses select for counter-defenses ...

The prostate gland is a strictly androgen-dependent organ which is also the main target of infectious and inflammatory diseases in the male reproductive tract. Host defenses and immunity of the gland have unique features ...

The host-associated microbiome is vital to host immunity and pathogen defense. In aquatic ecosystems, organisms may interact with environmental bacteria to influence the pool of potential symbionts, but the effects of these ...

Health and disease emerge from intricate interactions between genotypes, phenotypes, and environmental features. The outcomes of such interactions are context-dependent, existing as a dynamic continuum ranging from benefits ...

The cowbirds (Molothrus, Icteridae) are a monophyletic group that includes five extant brood-parasitic species. The Screaming (M. rufoaxillaris), Giant (M. oryzivorus) and Shiny (M. bonariensis) cowbirds range mostly in ...

Resistance and tolerance are considered to be different plant strategies against disease. While resistance traits prevent hosts becoming parasitized or reduce the extent of parasitism, tolerance traits reduce the fitness-impact ...