Comparative analysis estimates the relative frequencies of co-divergence and cross-species transmission within viral families.

ABSTRACT: The cross-species transmission of viruses from one host species to another is responsible for the majority of emerging infections. However, it is unclear whether some virus families have a greater propensity to jump host species than others. If related viruses have an evolutionary history of co-divergence with their hosts there should be evidence of topological similarities between the virus and host phylogenetic trees, whereas host jumping generates incongruent tree topologies. By analyzing co-phylogenetic processes in 19 virus families and their eukaryotic hosts we provide a quantitative and comparative estimate of the relative frequency of virus-host co-divergence versus cross-species transmission among virus families. Notably, our analysis reveals that cross-species transmission is a n

SUBMITTER: Geoghegan JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5319820 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature