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Updated: May 1, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
Published on: February 3, 2023
Digest: Evolution of viral fitness is influenced by host genetic spatial structure
1Department of Biological Sciences, San José State University, San José, United States.
Abstract:
Host population dynamics influence viral evolution and host specialization. In a recent study, Visher et al. (2026) investigate the role of spatially structured host genotypes in the evolution of generalist and specialist viruses. Through experimentally evolving Plodia interpunctella granulovirus in inbred hosts of spatially clustered genotypes, the authors demonstrate that, even in heterogeneous populations, population clusters result in viral specialization and inhibit the rise of generalist viruses.
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