Within-host Competition Does Not Select for Virulence in Malaria Parasites; Studies with Plasmodium yoelii
Figure 5
Relative fitness of avirulent (CU and 17XNL), intermediately virulent (17X1.1pp) and virulent (17XL) strains of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii in single (Panel A) or in mixed (B) infections.
Fitness coefficients were derived from the numbers of oocysts produced by each clone in mixed and single infections. For single strain infections (A), the fitness of 17XNL, 17XL and 17X1.1pp are given relative to that of the fittest strain, CU. In mixed infections, the fitness of each clone in the presence of a competitor or competitors is given relative to its fitness in a single strain infection (B).