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Phase transitions in virology
Ricard Solé1,2,3, Josep Sardanyés4,5, Santiago F Elena3,6
1ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra-PRBB, Dr Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Reports on Progress in Physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)
|September 29, 2021
Summary
Viral dynamics across scales can be understood using physics-inspired phase transition models. These minimal models offer insights into viral evolution, complexity, and epidemic spreading.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Mathematical Biology
- Physics
Background:
- Viruses interact with all life forms, often parasitically, causing significant health and economic impacts.
- Viruses influence host evolution and can be integrated into host genomes.
- Viral dynamics occur across multiple biological scales, from molecular mechanisms to global pandemics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of physics phase transition models to understand viral dynamics.
- To investigate how simplified mathematical models can illuminate viral origins, evolution, and complexity.
- To connect viral dynamics across different scales and highlight evolutionary and clinical implications.
Main Methods:
- Review of mathematical models of transition phenomena in virology.
- Application of physics concepts of phase transitions to viral systems.
- Analysis of minimal models to understand viral complexity and dynamics.
Main Results:
- Phase transition concepts provide a framework for understanding viral behavior at different scales.
- Minimal models reveal insights into viral origins, evolution, and the emergence of complexity.
- Threshold conditions are identified that connect molecular, epidemic, and evolutionary viral dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Physics-inspired models offer powerful, simplified perspectives on complex viral phenomena.
- Understanding viral phase transitions can inform evolutionary and clinical strategies.
- Multiscale analysis using minimal models is key to deciphering viral dynamics.
Keywords:
bifurcationscomplex systemsepidemicsmutationphase transitionsrecombinationself-assemblyvirusesMore Related Videos
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