Coevolutionary dynamics of viruses and their defective interfering particles.

ABSTRACT: Defective interfering particles (DIPs) are viral mutants that arise naturally during infection. Because they lack one or more essential functions, DIPs cannot replicate on their own, but they can parasitize intact viruses during co-infection by competing for growth resources, thereby interfering with viral replication. The evolutionary interplay between viruses and their DIPs involves growth, mutation, interference, and resource trade-offs, but the mechanisms shaping population-level outcomes remain poorly understood. To address this, we developed a continuous phenotype-space model using coupled partial differential equations that incorporate mutation, phenotype-dependent interference, intrinsic fitness costs, and de novo DIP generation. Unlike traditional strong-selection models, t

SUBMITTER: Muthupandiyan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12633390 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature