Virion aggregation shapes infection dynamics and evolutionary potential.

ABSTRACT: Viral spread is classically thought to be mediated by single viral particles. However, viruses can also disseminate as aggregates, inside membranous vesicles, and as clusters bound to bacterial or complex surfaces. The implications of collective dispersal for viral infectivity and evolution remain incompletely defined. Here, we used mammalian orthoreovirus to evaluate the impact of aggregation on the propagation of infection and the generation of viral diversity through reassortment. Aggregation of free virions was induced by manipulating pH and ionic conditions. This treatment promoted coordinated delivery of viruses to cells, increasing the number of virions per infected cell and the number of virions per occupied endosome at early times of infection. Likely due to a consolidation of inf

SUBMITTER: Sethi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12645961 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature