All multicellular organisms host microbial communities in and on their bodies, and these
microbiomes can have major influences on host biology. Most research has focussed on the …

▪ Abstract Mammals are exposed to a diverse array of parasites and infectious diseases,
many of which affect host survival and reproduction. Species that live in dense populations …

Parasites can dramatically reduce the fitness of their hosts, and natural selection should
favor defense mechanisms that can protect hosts against disease. Much work has focused …

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of insects are known from the mites, nematodes, fungi,
protists and viruses. In total 73 species of parasite and pathogen from approximately 182 …

Studies of female mate choice commonly use virgin females as test subjects, either to control
for the effects of mating or because virgin females are presumed to be more responsive to …

Mate preferences may operate in part to mitigate the threats posed by infectious disease. In
this paper, we outline various ways in which preferring healthy mates can offer direct …

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been shown to increase the costs of multiple
mating and therefore favor relatively monogamous mating strategies. We examine another …

Choosing to mate with an infected partner has several potential fitness costs, including
disease transmission and infection-induced reductions in fecundity and parental care. By …

Recent recognition of widespread polyandry in insects has generated considerable interest
in understanding why females mate multiple times and in identifying factors that affect …

When syphilis first appeared in Europe in 1495, it was an acute and extremely unpleasant
disease. After only a few years it was less severe than it once was, and it changed over the …