Similarity-weighted entropy for quantifying genetic diversity in viral quasispecies.

ABSTRACT: A viral quasispecies is a genetically diverse population of closely related viral variants that exist in a state of dynamic equilibrium. This diversity, driven by mutations, recombination, and selective pressures, enables viruses to adapt rapidly, affecting pathogenicity and treatment resistance. Quantifying the genetic diversity within viral quasispecies is therefore crucial for understanding viral evolution and for designing effective therapeutic strategies. Entropy is a commonly used metric to measure genetic diversity within such populations; however, traditional entropy calculations often neglect genetic similarities between sequences, which can result in overestimating true diversity. In this study, I compare several widely used diversity indices for quantifying viral quasispecies di

SUBMITTER: Wu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12079039 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature