A largely shared genetic architecture underlies Saccharomyces cerevisiae persistence across different mouse host genotypes

Yeast genotype explains 45.2% of variance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae segregant persistence across mouse brains and livers, while yeast-by-host genotype interactions explain only 2.9%.

• Why it matters: Host genetic background can shape opportunistic pathogen persistence, but it is unclear how much microbial persistence depends on microbial genotype versus microbial–host genotype interactions.
• What they did: A pooled, barcoded panel of haploid segregants from a laboratory–clinical Saccharomyces cerevisiae cross was injected intravenously into seven genetically diverse mouse strains, and persistence was quantified by barcode sequencing in brain and liver.
• The result: Persistence was transgressive in both organs; loci detected across more host genotypes explained more variance, with “general” loci boosting persistence across organs and “antagonistic” loci trading off between organs.

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