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Mode and tempo of human hepatitis virus evolution
Rachele Cagliani1, Diego Forni1, Manuela Sironi1
1Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
|November 27, 2019
Summary
Human viral hepatitis viruses have diverse origins and evolutionary histories. Recent genomic and computational advances reveal their relatives in mammals, aiding understanding of hepatitis spread.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Human viral hepatitis is a global health concern caused by diverse viruses.
- Technological advancements have improved understanding of hepatitis virus evolution and host range.
- Relatives of human hepatitis viruses have been found in various mammal species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent insights into the evolutionary events and ecological contexts of human hepatitis viruses.
- To explore the origin and spread of human hepatitis viruses using genomic data.
- To highlight the role of technological advances in understanding viral evolution.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing of viral genomes.
- Development of computational tools for analyzing viral genome data.
- Phylogeographic and molecular dating approaches applied to viral phylogenies.
Main Results:
- Identification of close or distant relatives of human hepatitis viruses (excluding hepatitis D virus) in domestic and wild mammals.
- Application of phylogeographic and molecular dating to large viral phylogenies using geographically and temporally diverse viral sequences.
- Expanded knowledge on the host range and evolutionary history of human hepatitis viruses.
Conclusions:
- Genomic and computational tools have significantly advanced the understanding of human hepatitis virus evolution.
- The identification of viral relatives in mammals provides insights into the origins and zoonotic potential of hepatitis viruses.
- Phylogeographic and molecular dating analyses are crucial for reconstructing the spread and evolutionary history of hepatitis viruses.
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