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Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Prediction of HIV-1 Coreceptor Usage Tropism by Sequence Analysis using a Genotypic Approach

Prediction of HIV-1 Coreceptor Usage Tropism by Sequence Analysis using a Genotypic Approach

Published on: December 1, 2011

Predicting the global mammalian viral sharing network using phylogeography.

Gregory F Albery^1,2,3, Evan A Eskew⁴, Noam Ross⁴

¹EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA. gfalbery@gmail.com.

Nature Communications

|May 10, 2020

Summary

Mammalian viral sharing is predicted by host traits like phylogeny and geography. This model forecasts high transmission rates in tropical rodents and bats, aiding pathogen surveillance.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Virology
Macroecology

Background:

Interspecific viral transmission is crucial for understanding viral ecology, evolution, and disease spillover.
Previous research identified macroecological drivers of viral sharing but lacked a pan-mammalian predictive model.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a predictive model for viral sharing across all mammal species.
To identify key host traits influencing viral transmission patterns in mammals.

Main Methods:

Employed a conservative modeling framework using host phylogenetic similarity and geographic range overlap.
Predicted global viral sharing patterns for 4,196 mammal species.
Validated the model using internal cross-validation and an external dataset.

Main Results:

Host phylogenetic similarity and geographic range overlap were confirmed as strong, nonlinear predictors of viral sharing.
High rates of mammalian viral sharing are predicted in tropical regions, especially among rodents and bats.
Geographic and taxonomic differences were observed in within- and between-order viral sharing.

Conclusions:

Ecological and phylogenetic factors significantly shape mammalian viral communities.
The developed model provides a robust framework for predicting viral host range.
Findings can guide pathogen surveillance and conservation efforts for mammals.