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Updated: May 20, 2026

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
Published on: June 16, 2011
Do persistent RNA viruses fit the trade-off hypothesis of virulence evolution?
Luis M Márquez1, Marilyn J Roossinck
1The Pennsylvania State University, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
Abstract:
The evolution of virulence has been studied from a number of theoretical perspectives, and a few experimental systems. Although there is no consensus on an overarching framework that covers all situations, the 'trade-off' hypothesis is a useful framework for examining the nature of symbiotic relationships between viruses and their hosts. Here we use this framework to look at persistent RNA viruses of unicellular eukaryotes and fungi that are themselves parasites of more complex eukaryotes. In these tripartite symbioses we look at the cost to the microbial host as well as the macrobial host. In some cases benefits conferred by the virus to the microbial host result in greater costs to the macrobial host, in other cases the microbial host suffers a greater cost but the macrobial host wins, and in some cases everyone wins. In all cases the trade-off hypothesis can be invoked.
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