Evolution in spatially mixed host environments increases divergence for evolved fitness and intrapopulation genetic diversity in RNA viruses.

ABSTRACT: Virus populations may be challenged to evolve in spatially heterogeneous environments, such as mixtures of host cells that pose differing selection pressures. Spatial heterogeneity may select for evolved polymorphisms, where multiple virus subpopulations coexist by specializing on a narrow subset of the available hosts. Alternatively, spatial heterogeneity may select for evolved generalism, where a single genotype dominates the virus population by occupying a relatively broader host niche. In addition, the extent of spatial heterogeneity should influence the degree of divergence among virus populations encountering identical environmental challenges. Spatial heterogeneity creates environmental complexity that should increase the probability of differing adaptive phenotypic solutions, thus

SUBMITTER: Morley VJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4989875 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature