Our current knowledge of viral mutation rates indicates that viral genetic diversity is determined by multiple virus- and host-dependent processes, and that viral mutation rates can evolve in response to specific selective pressures.

2024年4月4日 · Viral mutation is a common occurrence and not a cause for major concern. It can, however, lead to variants and eventually even new strains of a virus. Understanding how viruses evolve can inform preventive strategies, such as vaccination.

Our current knowledge of viral mutation rates indicates that viral genetic diversity is determined by multiple virus- and host-dependent processes, and that viral mutation rates can evolve in response to specific selective pressures.

Mutations can produce viruses with new antigenic determinants. The appearance of an antigenically novel virus through mutation is called antigenic drift. Antigenically altered viruses may be able to cause disease in previously resistant or immune hosts.

Viruses use the same molecular mechanisms of genetic variation than other forms of life: mutation (that encompasses point mutations and insertions-deletions of different lengths), hypermutation, several types of recombination, and genome segment reassortment. Mutation is observed in all viruses, with no known exceptions.

Viruses exhibit highly heterogeneous genome structures and replication strategies. These basic features correlate with viral propensity to mutate and, hence, with viral genetic diversity and evolvability. The mutation rates of viruses vary according to genome composition (RNA or DNA), size, and structure (single- or double-stranded).

One of the problems for studying viral origins and evolution is the high rate of viral mutation, particularly the case in RNA retroviruses like HIV/AIDS. A recent study based on comparisons of viral protein folding structures, however, is offering some new evidence.

2016年7月8日 · Viral mutation rates are not merely caused by polymerase errors, but also by the ability of a virus to correct DNA mismatches by proofreading and/or post-replicative repair. Furthermore, other sources of mutation include host enzymes, spontaneous nucleic acid damage, and even special genetic elements located within some viral genomes whose ...

Influenza viruses change in two main ways, antigenic drift and antigenic shift. A comparison of the similarities and differences between coronaviruses and flu viruses may help us understand how those similarities and differences could impact potential COVID-19 vaccines.

Mutations are a natural part of viral evolution. The changes are inevitable, and no treatment or vaccination program can offer a foolproof solution to fully evading viruses such as SARS-CoV-2....