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Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral 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...
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
Translational Regulation01:29

Translational Regulation

Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...

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Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
18:10

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

Published on: June 16, 2011

Stochastic temperatures impede RNA virus adaptation.

Barry W Alto1, Brian R Wasik, Nadya M Morales

  • 1Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, Florida 32962, USA. bwalto@ufl.edu

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|April 5, 2013
PubMed
Summary

RNA virus evolution in changing temperatures shows surprising fitness gains, with the glycoprotein gene being key. Evolving viruses in constant conditions did not lead to performance trade-offs in fluctuating environments.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Constant environments are theorized to promote specialization, while fluctuating environments may favor generalists.
  • Understanding viral adaptation to environmental change is crucial for predicting disease dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate phenotypic and molecular changes in vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) evolving under constant versus fluctuating temperatures.
  • To determine if constant temperature selection causes performance trade-offs and if changing temperatures favor generalist evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Evolving VSV lineages in controlled constant, deterministic fluctuating, and stochastic fluctuating temperature environments.
  • Assessing viral fitness in selected and unselected temperatures.
  • Analyzing viral genome sequences for molecular evolution patterns.

Main Results:

  • VSV evolved at constant temperatures showed fitness gains without significant performance trade-offs in unselected environments.
  • Evolution in deterministically changing temperatures yielded the highest overall fitness gains, while stochastic changes resulted in the lowest.
  • The glycoprotein (G) gene was the primary site of genome substitutions across all temperature treatments.

Conclusions:

  • VSV can adapt to constant temperatures without compromising performance in fluctuating environments.
  • Deterministic temperature fluctuations can drive significant viral fitness gains, whereas stochastic fluctuations may limit adaptive improvement.
  • The VSV glycoprotein gene is a critical determinant of viral adaptation to thermal variability.