Dr Emily Belcher's Outputs (2)

Rising temperatures favour parasite virulence and parallel molecular evolution following a host jump (2025)
Working Paper
E Hector, T., M Kreiner, J., C Forward, J., L Hoang, K., J Stevens, E., Johnson, S., …C King, K. Rising temperatures favour parasite virulence and parallel molecular evolution following a host jump

Climate change is facilitating the poleward emergence of parasites, increasing the risk of jumping into new animal species, including humans. Whether more virulent or transmissible variants will spread during these climate-driven outbreaks is unclear... Read More about Rising temperatures favour parasite virulence and parallel molecular evolution following a host jump.

Within-host competition sparks pathogen molecular evolution and perpetual microbiota dysbiosis (2024)
Working Paper
Stevens, E., Li, J., Hector, T., Drew, G., Hoang, K., Greenrod, S., …King, K. Within-host competition sparks pathogen molecular evolution and perpetual microbiota dysbiosis

Pathogens newly invading a host must compete with resident microbiota. This within-host microbial warfare could lead to more severe disease outcomes or constrain the evolution of virulence. Using experimental evolution of a widespread pathogen (Staph... Read More about Within-host competition sparks pathogen molecular evolution and perpetual microbiota dysbiosis.