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Rapid evolution of RNA viruses.

D A Steinhauer1, J J Holland

  • 1Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla 92093.

Annual Review of Microbiology
|January 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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RNA virus genomes mutate rapidly due to high error rates in RNA synthesis, creating diverse quasispecies. This genetic variability drives rapid evolution, posing challenges for disease control and vaccine development.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • RNA synthesis is prone to errors, leading to high mutation rates in RNA viruses.
  • RNA virus populations exist as quasispecies, collections of related but distinct genomes.
  • These populations can exhibit remarkable stability or undergo rapid evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the high mutation rates in RNA viruses.
  • To describe the concept of RNA virus quasispecies.
  • To highlight the implications of rapid RNA virus evolution for disease and vaccine design.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on RNA virus mutation and evolution.
  • Analysis of population dynamics in RNA virus replication.
  • Case study examples of RNA virus-related diseases.

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Main Results:

  • High error rates in RNA synthesis are the primary driver of high mutation rates in RNA viruses.
  • RNA virus populations are typically quasispecies, a dynamic collection of related genomes.
  • Environmental conditions can destabilize virus-population equilibria, leading to rapid evolutionary bursts.

Conclusions:

  • The inherent error-prone nature of RNA synthesis results in high mutation rates and quasispecies populations in RNA viruses.
  • Rapid evolution of RNA viruses presents significant challenges for managing emerging infectious diseases and developing effective vaccines.