Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
11:12
Protocols for Investigating the Host-tissue Distribution, Transmission-mode, and Effect on the Host Fitness of a Densovirus in the Cotton Bollworm
Published on: April 12, 2017
Coevolutionary dynamics of viruses and their defective interfering particles
Shiv Muthupandiyan1, John Yin1
1Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.
Plos Computational Biology
|May 20, 2026
Summary
Defective interfering particles (DIPs) are viral mutants that parasitize intact viruses. Modeling virus-DIP coevolution reveals population cycles and trait-based chases, impacting therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Mathematical Modeling
Background:
- Defective interfering particles (DIPs) are viral mutants that require intact viruses for replication.
- Their evolutionary interplay with viruses involves complex dynamics poorly understood at the population level.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for viral evolution and therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a phenotype-space model for virus-DIP coevolution.
- To investigate the mechanisms shaping population-level outcomes and trait evolution.
- To identify conditions promoting different evolutionary regimes and inform therapeutic design.
Main Methods:
- Developed a continuous phenotype-space model using coupled partial differential equations.
- Incorporated mutation, phenotype-dependent interference, fitness costs, and de novo DIP generation.
- Analyzed population and trait-level dynamics under strong-mutation regimes.
Main Results:
- Observed predator-prey-like population oscillations (von Magnus effect).
- Identified coevolutionary 'chase' dynamics driven by trait evolution.
- Characterized four regimes: coexistence, chase dynamics, DIP extinction, and mutual extinction.
- Found intermediate interference and low decay rates promote chase dynamics.
Conclusions:
- The model provides a general framework for virus-DIP coevolution.
- Both population dynamics and trait evolution are critical determinants of outcomes.
- Findings have implications for designing more robust DIP-based therapeutics against viral escape.
More Related Videos
10:11Modeling The Lifecycle Of Ebola Virus Under Biosafety Level 2 Conditions With Virus-like Particles Containing Tetracistronic Minigenomes
Published on: September 27, 2014
09:57Establishment of Viral Infection and Analysis of Host-Virus Interaction in Drosophila Melanogaster
Published on: March 14, 2019
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
00:57Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
01:29Subviral Agents
Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
01:28Introduction to Virus
Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...