Independent repeated mutations within the alphaviruses Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus indicates convergent evolution and past positive selection in ancestral populations despite ongoing purifying selection.

ABSTRACT: Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) are arthritogenic arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that exhibit generalist host associations and share distributions in Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Using stochastic mapping and discrete-trait phylogenetic analyses, we profiled the independent evolution of RRV and BFV signature mutations. Analysis of 186 RRV and 88 BFV genomes demonstrated their viral evolution trajectories have involved repeated selection of mutations, particularly in the nonstructural protein 1 (nsP1) and envelope 3 (E3) genes suggesting convergent evolution. Convergent mutations in the nsP1 genes of RRV (residues 248 and 441) and BFV (residues 297 and 447) may be involved with catalytic enzyme mechanisms and host membrane interaction

SUBMITTER: Pyke AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11477980 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature