Evolutionary mechanisms of persistence and diversification of a calicivirus within endemically infected natural host populations.

ABSTRACT: In order to understand the evolutionary mechanisms of persistence and diversification within the Caliciviridae, we have been exploiting endemic infection of feline calicivirus within five geographically distinct household groups of cats. By sequencing immunodominant and variable regions of the capsid gene, we identified the relative contribution of the different evolutionary processes employed by the virus to ensure its long-term survival in the host population. Such strategies included progressive evolution of a given variant of a strain through mutation accumulation within an individual, sequential reinfection with either a variant of the same strain or with a different strain, and mixed infection. Recombination between different strains in this study has been reported in detail elsewher

SUBMITTER: Coyne KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1797550 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature