Evolutionary ecology of virus emergence
1Biology Department, Queens College of the City University of New York, Queens, New York and The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|December 31, 2016
Summary
Virus emergence, the spread of viruses to new hosts, is driven by ecology and evolution. Most emergence events are dead-ends due to evolutionary and ecological limits, but vigilance is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Ecology
Background:
- Virus emergence poses significant risks to public health, agriculture, and wildlife.
- Understanding the ecological and evolutionary factors driving virus emergence is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary mechanisms underlying virus emergence.
- To connect virus evolution with ecological principles governing emergence events.
Main Methods:
- Review of evolutionary mechanisms of virus emergence.
- Analysis of ecological factors limiting virus transmission in new hosts.
Main Results:
- Virus acquisition of new host infectivity is feasible.
- Limited evolutionary pathways and ecological constraints (e.g., genetic erosion, bottlenecks) restrict sustained transmission.
- Most emergence events result in dead-end spillover infections.
Conclusions:
- While sustained epidemics from novel viruses are rare, the potential for such events necessitates ongoing research.
- Continued surveillance, prophylaxis, and treatment strategies are essential to manage emerging viral threats.
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