Host-Associated Genetic Differentiation in the Face of Ongoing Gene Flow: Ecological Speciation in a Pathogenic Parasite of Freshwater Fish

Adaptive evolution in response to varying environments, leading to population divergence, is among the most intriguing processes of speciation. However, the extent to which these adaptive processes effectively drive population divergence amidst ongoing gene flow remains controversial. Our study addresses this by analyzing population genetic structure, gene flow, and genomic divergence between lineages of a tapeworm parasite (Ligula intestinalis) isolated from sympatric fish hosts. This parasite, which must overcome host immunological defenses for successful infection, significantly impacts host health. Utilizing genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and transcriptome data, we investigated whether host species impose distinct selection pressures on parasite populations. Genetic clustering analyses revealed clear divergence, with parasites from bream (Abramis brama) forming a distinct genetic cluster separate from those infecting roach (Rutilus rutilus), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), and bleak (Alburnus alburnus). Demographic modeling indicated isolation with continuous gene flow as the most plausible scenario for this divergence. Selection analyses identified 896 SNPs under selection, displaying low to moderate nucleotide diversity and genetic divergence compared with neutral loci. Transcriptome profiling supported these findings, revealing distinct gene expression profiles between parasite populations. Examination of selected SNPs and differentially expressed genes identified candidate genes linked to immune evasion mechanisms, potentially driving ecological speciation. This research highlights the interplay of host specificity, population demography, and disruptive selection in ecological speciation. By dissecting genomic factors, our study improves the understanding of mechanisms facilitating population divergence despite ongoing gene flow.