Molecular Population Biology Lab, Lund University

Lars Råberg Project:

e-mail: lars.raberg@zooekol.lu.se
Telephone: +46-46-222 37 66

Research:
I study the evolutionary ecology of host-parasite interactions. My research currently focuses on two topics:

•Resistance and tolerance to parasites in animals
How do host organisms defend themselves against pathogenic micro-organisms and other parasites? In principle, host defence against parasites can be divided into two conceptually different components: resistance (the ability to limit the parasite burden during an infection) and tolerance (the ability to limit the disease severity of a given parasite burden). It is important to distinguish between these two components because, by definition, resistance has a negative effect on parasites while tolerance does not. Consequently, their relative importance will have significant consequences for the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. For example, if hosts evolve resistance this should reduce the prevalence of the parasite in the host population, but if hosts evolve tolerance, the prevalence of the parasite should increase. I use rodent malaria in lab mice as a model system to investigate how genetic and environmental factors affect tolerance in animals. This project is performed in collaboration with Andrew Read at Penn State, USA.

•Evolution of parasite virulence
Some parasites and pathogens cause considerable mortality and morbidity, while others are relatively benign. To understand how this diversity in parasite virulence has evolved it is necessary to investigate how natural selection acts on virulence, that is, what factors favour high or low virulence? To address this question, I use Borrelia in rodents as a model system.

Curriculum vitae:
2007- Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University
2006-2007 Researcher, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University
2004-2005 Post doc, Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh
2002 PhD, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University
1996 MSc, Lund University

Selected publications:
Råberg, L. and Holmqvist, N. 2008. The harvest mouse Micromys minutus occurs in the province of Skåne, Sweden. Fauna och Flora 103:8-12. [In Swedish with English summary].

Råberg, L., Sim, D. and Read, A. F. 2007. Disentangling genetic variation for resistance and tolerance to infectious diseases in animals. Science 318:812-814.

Råberg, L., de Roode, J. C., Bell, A. S., Stamou, P., Gray, D. and Read, A. F. 2006. The role of immune-mediated apparent competition in genetically diverse malaria infections. The American Naturalist 168:41-53.

Stjernman, M., Råberg, L. and Nilsson, J.-Å. 2004. Survival costs of reproduction in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus): a role for blood parasites? Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B 271:2387-2394

Råberg, L. and Stjernman, M. 2003. Natural selection on immune responsiveness in blue tits (Parus caeruleus). Evolution 57:1670-1678.

Råberg, L., Vestberg, M., Hasselquist, D., Holmdahl, R., Svensson, E. and Nilsson, J-Å. 2002. Basal metabolic rate and the evolution of the adaptive immune system. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B 269:817-821.

Råberg, L., Nilsson, J-Å, Ilmonen, P, Stjernman, M and Hasselquist, D. 2000. The cost of an immune response: vaccination reduces parental effort. Ecology Letters 3: 382-386.

Råberg, L., Grahn, M., Hasselquist, D. and Svensson, E. 1998. On the adaptive significance of stress-induced immunosuppression. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B 265:1637-41.

	*Lars Råberg*	Project:
e-mail: lars.raberg@zooekol.lu.se Telephone: +46-46-222 37 66
Research: I study the evolutionary ecology of host-parasite interactions. My research currently focuses on two topics: •Resistance and tolerance to parasites in animals How do host organisms defend themselves against pathogenic micro-organisms and other parasites? In principle, host defence against parasites can be divided into two conceptually different components: resistance (the ability to limit the parasite burden during an infection) and tolerance (the ability to limit the disease severity of a given parasite burden). It is important to distinguish between these two components because, by definition, resistance has a negative effect on parasites while tolerance does not. Consequently, their relative importance will have significant consequences for the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. For example, if hosts evolve resistance this should reduce the prevalence of the parasite in the host population, but if hosts evolve tolerance, the prevalence of the parasite should increase. I use rodent malaria in lab mice as a model system to investigate how genetic and environmental factors affect tolerance in animals. This project is performed in collaboration with Andrew Read at Penn State, USA. •Evolution of parasite virulence Some parasites and pathogens cause considerable mortality and morbidity, while others are relatively benign. To understand how this diversity in parasite virulence has evolved it is necessary to investigate how natural selection acts on virulence, that is, what factors favour high or low virulence? To address this question, I use Borrelia in rodents as a model system.
Curriculum vitae: 2007- Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University 2006-2007 Researcher, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University 2004-2005 Post doc, Institutes of Evolution, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh 2002 PhD, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University 1996 MSc, Lund University
Selected publications: Råberg, L. and Holmqvist, N. 2008. The harvest mouse Micromys minutus occurs in the province of Skåne, Sweden. Fauna och Flora 103:8-12. [In Swedish with English summary]. Råberg, L., Sim, D. and Read, A. F. 2007. Disentangling genetic variation for resistance and tolerance to infectious diseases in animals. Science 318:812-814. Råberg, L., de Roode, J. C., Bell, A. S., Stamou, P., Gray, D. and Read, A. F. 2006. The role of immune-mediated apparent competition in genetically diverse malaria infections. The American Naturalist 168:41-53. Stjernman, M., Råberg, L. and Nilsson, J.-Å. 2004. Survival costs of reproduction in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus): a role for blood parasites? Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B 271:2387-2394 Råberg, L. and Stjernman, M. 2003. Natural selection on immune responsiveness in blue tits (Parus caeruleus). Evolution 57:1670-1678. Råberg, L., Vestberg, M., Hasselquist, D., Holmdahl, R., Svensson, E. and Nilsson, J-Å. 2002. Basal metabolic rate and the evolution of the adaptive immune system. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B 269:817-821. Råberg, L., Nilsson, J-Å, Ilmonen, P, Stjernman, M and Hasselquist, D. 2000. The cost of an immune response: vaccination reduces parental effort. Ecology Letters 3: 382-386. Råberg, L., Grahn, M., Hasselquist, D. and Svensson, E. 1998. On the adaptive significance of stress-induced immunosuppression. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B 265:1637-41.