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A mathematical model of marine bacteriophage evolution
Silvia Pagliarini1,2, Andrei Korobeinikov2,3
1Department of Computer Science, Univestità degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy.
Royal Society Open Science
|April 17, 2018
Summary
This study models marine bacteriophage evolution, showing Darwinian evolution occurs via mutations and natural selection. Viral fitness increases over time, with evolution speed depending on bacterial populations and viral fitness.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Evolutionary Biology: Focuses on viral evolution within host-cell systems.
- Mathematical Biology: Utilizes mathematical modeling to understand biological processes.
Background:
- Marine bacteriophage systems offer a simplified model for studying viral evolution due to homogeneous mixing.
- Existing models like Beretta-Kuang provide a foundation for understanding bacteria-phage interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a mathematical model of marine bacteriophage evolution.
- To investigate the impact of host cell replication on viral evolution.
- To explore how mutations and natural selection drive viral adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Formulation of a mechanistic mathematical model based on the Beretta-Kuang model.
- Inclusion of continuously distributed viral phenotypes.
- Simulations using a linear fitness landscape to observe evolutionary dynamics.
Main Results:
- Simulations demonstrate a travelling wave of increasing Darwinian fitness in the phenotype space.
- Viral quasi-species fitness increases over time, indicating Darwinian evolution.
- The model replicates self-sustained oscillations observed in the Beretta-Kuang model, with stable wave propagation.
Conclusions:
- Random mutations and natural selection drive Darwinian evolution in marine bacteriophage systems.
- Evolutionary rate is influenced by viral fitness and susceptible bacteria abundance.
- Self-sustained oscillations do not halt viral evolution but can reduce its speed.
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