Study finds viral adaptation in animal reservoirs is not a necessary precursor for human epidemics and pandemics
By
Jennifer L. Havens1,2,9 Send email to [email protected]
Summary
This scientific study investigates whether zoonotic viruses require adaptation in reservoir hosts before they can sustain human-to-human transmission. Using a phylogenetic framework to characterize natural selection, researchers analyzed the emergence of Ebola virus, Marburg virus, mpox virus, influenza A virus, and SARS-CoV-2. The study found no evidence of a change in selection intensity immediately prior to outbreaks in humans compared with typical selection within reservoir hosts, suggesting that extensive pre-zoonotic adaptation is not a necessary precursor for novel zoonotic virus epidemics and pandemics. However, the 1977 reemergence of H1N1 influenza A virus was preceded by selection consistent with laboratory passage, and a change in selection was found on SARS-CoV in an intermediate host.
Source
bskyStudy finds viral adaptation in animal reservoirs is not a necessary precursor for human epidemics and pandemicscell.comKey quotes
· 5 pulledUsing a phylogenetic framework to characterize natural selection, we investigate the hypothesis that zoonotic viruses require adaptation prior to zoonosis to sustain human-to-human transmission.
Examining the zoonotic emergence of Ebola virus, Marburg virus, mpox virus, influenza A virus, and SARS-CoV-2, we find no evidence of a change in selection intensity immediately prior to outbreaks in humans compared with typical selection within reservoir hosts.
We conclude that extensive pre-zoonotic adaptation is not a necessary precursor of novel zoonotic virus epidemics and pandemics, including SARS-CoV-2.
The 1977 reemergence of H1N1 influenza A virus was preceded by selection consistent with laboratory passage.
We found a change in selection on SARS-CoV in an intermediate host.
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