St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Short-sighted virus evolution and a germline hypothesis for chronic viral infections

Thumbnail
View/Open
Gardner_2017_TiM_Short_sightedVirus_CC.pdf (1.722Mb)
Date
05/2017
Author
Lythgoe, Katrina A.
Gardner, Andy
Pybus, Oliver G.
Grove, Joe
Funder
NERC
Grant ID
NE/K009524/1
Keywords
Virus
Evolution
Transmission
QH301 Biology
QR Microbiology
QR180 Immunology
T-NDAS
Metadata
Show full item record
Altmetrics Handle Statistics
Altmetrics DOI Statistics
Abstract
With extremely short generation times and high mutability, many viruses can rapidly evolve and adapt to changing environments. This ability is generally beneficial to viruses as it allows them to evade host immune responses, evolve new behaviours, and exploit ecological niches. However, natural selection typically generates adaptation in response to the immediate selection pressures that a virus experiences in its current host. Consequently, we argue that some viruses, particularly those characterised by long durations of infection and ongoing replication, may be susceptible to short-sighted evolution, whereby a virus’ adaptation to its current host will be detrimental to its onward transmission within the host population. Here we outline the concept of short-sighted viral evolution and provide examples of how it may negatively impact viral transmission among hosts. We also propose that viruses that are vulnerable to short-sighted evolution may exhibit strategies that minimise its effects. We speculate on the various mechanisms by which this may be achieved, including viral life history strategies that result in low rates of within-host evolution, or the establishment of a ‘germline’ lineage of viruses that avoids short-sighted evolution. These concepts provide a new perspective on the way in which some viruses have been able to establish and maintain global pandemics.
Citation
Lythgoe , K A , Gardner , A , Pybus , O G & Grove , J 2017 , ' Short-sighted virus evolution and a germline hypothesis for chronic viral infections ' , Trends in Microbiology , vol. 25 , no. 5 , pp. 336-348 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2017.03.003
Publication
Trends in Microbiology
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2017.03.003
ISSN
0966-842X
Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Description
This work was funded by The Wellcome Trust and The Royal Society grant numbers wtvm055984 (KAL) and 107653/Z/15/Z (JG), The Natural Environment Research Council grant number NE/K009524/1 (AG), and The European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC grant number 614725-PATHPHYLODYN (OGP).
Collections
  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/10626

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter