Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
10:34
Probing RNA Structure with Dimethyl Sulfate Mutational Profiling with Sequencing In Vitro and in Cells
Published on: December 9, 2022
5.3K
Revised time scales of RNA virus evolution based on spatial information.
Moritz Saxenhofer1,2, Vanessa Weber de Melo1,3, Rainer G Ulrich4,5
1Computational and Molecular Population Genetics, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|August 11, 2017
Summary
Incorporating geographical data reveals that evolutionary age estimates for European hantaviruses are significantly underestimated due to sequence saturation. This spatial analysis suggests these viruses emerged thousands of years ago, aligning better with their host
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Estimating pathogen emergence relies on evolutionary rates from sequence data.
- Current methods often yield recent origins (hundreds of years) for many viruses.
- Mutational saturation in sequences can severely underestimate true evolutionary ages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reassess evolutionary age estimates for European hantaviruses.
- To investigate the impact of geographical information on viral evolutionary dating.
- To determine if spatial data improves accuracy compared to non-spatial methods.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences from Puumala and Tula hantaviruses.
- Incorporation of geographical sampling information into evolutionary rate calculations.
- Detection of spatial distance-genetic divergence relationships.
Main Results:
- Strong correlations between spatial distance and genetic divergence were found for both hantaviruses.
- Non-spatial methods severely underestimated the evolutionary ages.
- Minimum age estimates were 3700 years for Puumala and 2500 years for Tula hantaviruses.
Conclusions:
- Spatial information is crucial for accurate dating of pathogen evolution.
- European hantaviruses are significantly older than previously estimated.
- Integrating biogeographical data enhances understanding of virus emergence and evolution.
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
40.0K
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...
40.0K
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
890
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...
890
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
8.3K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
8.3K
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
3.7K
3.7K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
1.1K
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...
1.1K
02:33Retroviruses
15.1K
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’...
15.1K