Work

Hybridization and Immunology in Animals: A Review

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Pathogens exert strong selective pressures on their hosts by threatening their fitness and survival, driving evolutionary innovations in many aspects of host biology. The innate immune system and adaptive immunity enable many host species to withstand such pressures; however, when pathogens exceed a host's defensive capacity, the host is forced to evolve novel adaptations to survive and reproduce. One understudied mechanism for generating this novel adaptation is hybridization, a process by which beneficial immune alleles may introgress into hybrid offspring and, via backcrossing, spread through parental populations. In this review, we synthesize evidence across diverse animal systems showcasing how hybridization shapes immunological traits. We highlight cases where hybrid offspring exhibit enhanced tolerance or resistance to pathogens relative to their parent species, and identify gaps in research needed to further examine hybridization as a pathway for species to persist in the face of infectious disease.

Source: Ecology and Evolution

DOI: 10.1002/ece3.73500

Authors: Cheyenne R. Graham, Cody W. Thompson, Delbert A. Green, Kelly A. Speer

Institutions: University of Michigan, Northern Arizona University

Language: English

Topic: Evolution and Genetic Dynamics

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,570

Funder: Northern Arizona University