Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
07:55
Generation of Escape Variants of Neutralizing Influenza Virus Monoclonal Antibodies
Published on: August 29, 2017
12.3K
Widespread Historical Contingency in Influenza Viruses
Jean Claude Nshogozabahizi1, Jonathan Dench1, Stéphane Aris-Brosou2,3
1Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.
Genetics
|January 5, 2017
Summary
We developed a new statistical method to detect epistasis, which is gene interaction, in rapidly evolving organisms like the influenza A virus. This approach helps uncover genetic links driving drug resistance and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Systems Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Epistasis describes how genetic mutations interact, influencing traits like drug resistance and disease outcomes.
- Detecting epistasis is crucial but challenging, especially in rapidly evolving organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel statistical approach for detecting epistasis in fast-evolving systems.
- To adapt an ecological model for analyzing genetic data and uncovering mutation interactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a statistical approach adapted from ecological modeling.
- Validated the method through extensive simulations and analysis of experimentally validated data.
- Applied the method to study genetic data from influenza A virus.
Main Results:
- Simulations showed excellent specificity and precision for the method.
- The approach successfully identified known genetic interactions in both viral and eukaryotic systems.
- Correlated evolution was prevalent in influenza A viruses, indicating historical contingency and long-range interactions between genetic sites.
Conclusions:
- The novel statistical method effectively detects epistasis in fast-evolving organisms.
- Interacting genetic sites can be physically distant, suggesting complex evolutionary mechanisms.
- This approach enables unbiased, whole-genome detection of epistasis across diverse species.
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
40.3K
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...
40.3K
00:57Viral Recombination
25.5K
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.
25.5K
02:28Leaky Scanning
5.8K
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
5.8K
02:33Retroviruses
15.3K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
15.3K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
1.2K
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...
1.2K