Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
12:02
Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus
Published on: October 11, 2013
The evolutionary dynamics of bluetongue virus
Giovanna Carpi1, Edward C Holmes, Andrew Kitchen
1IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Environment and Natural Resources Area, S. Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
Journal of Molecular Evolution
|June 8, 2010
Summary
Bluetongue virus (BTV) genome segments evolve under purifying selection at lower rates than single-strand RNA viruses. Segment reassortment decouples the evolutionary dynamics of these double-stranded RNA virus segments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Bluetongue virus (BTV), a midge-borne Orbivirus, causes significant livestock disease and has spread across Europe.
- Genome reassortment among BTV's ten double-stranded (ds) RNA segments is crucial for generating epidemic strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of Bluetongue virus genome segments.
- To estimate nucleotide substitution rates and analyze geographic structure and divergence times for BTV segments.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of time-structured sequence data from 290 complete genomes of four BTV segments.
- Phylogenetic analysis to estimate substitution rates and times to most recent common ancestor (TMRCA).
Main Results:
- BTV genome segments evolve under strong purifying selection.
- Substitution rates (0.5-7 x 10^-4/site/year) are lower than those of single-strand RNA viruses.
- Significant differences in geographic structure and TMRCA were observed among segments, with segment 10 showing a recent origin.
Conclusions:
- Reassortment effectively decouples the evolutionary trajectories of individual BTV genome segments.
- These findings provide robust estimates for dsRNA virus substitution rates and highlight segment-specific evolutionary patterns.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
00:57Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
01:26Evolutionary Processes in Microbes
Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...
01:28Rabies
Rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family Rhabdoviridae. Its primary mode of transmission to humans is through bites or saliva-contaminated scratches from infected mammals such as dogs, bats, raccoons, or foxes. Transmission can also occur if infectious saliva contacts abraded skin or intact mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva.Viral Entry and Early ReplicationOnce introduced at the bite or scratch...
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
01:25Arboviral Encephalitis
Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...