Viral Quasispecies Inference from Single Observations-Mutagens as Accelerators of Quasispecies Evolution.

ABSTRACT: RNA virus populations exist as quasispecies-complex, dynamic clouds of closely related but genetically diverse variants generated by high mutation rates during replication. Assessing quasispecies structure and diversity is crucial for understanding viral evolution, adaptation, and response to antiviral treatments. However, comparing single quasispecies observations from individual biosamples, especially at different infection or treatment time points, presents statistical challenges. Traditional inferential tests are inapplicable due to the lack of replicate observations, and resampling-based approaches such as the bootstrap and jackknife are limited by biases and non-independence, particularly for diversity indices sensitive to rare haplotypes. In this study, we address these limitations

SUBMITTER: Gregori J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12472130 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature