Experimental Evolution of an RNA Virus in Wild Birds: Evidence for Host-Dependent Impacts on Population Structure and Competitive Fitness
Grubaugh ND, Smith DR, Brackney DE, Bosco-Lauth AM, Fauver JR, Campbell CL, Felix TA, Romo H, Duggal NK, Dietrich EA, Eike T, Beane JE, Bowen RA, Black WC, Brault AC, Ebel GD. Experimental Evolution of an RNA Virus in Wild Birds: Evidence for Host-Dependent Impacts on Population Structure and Competitive Fitness. PLOS Pathogens 2015, 11: e1004874. PMID: 25993022, PMCID: PMC4439088, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004874.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRNA virus populationsWNV populationsBird speciesRNA virusesNatural selectionFitness gainsVirus populationsStrength of selectionWest Nile virusSpecies-specific mannerDistinct phenotypic consequencesAverage mutation frequencyExperimental evolutionMutational toleranceError-prone replicationCompetitive fitnessPopulation structureNext-generation sequencingPhenotypic consequencesGenetic compositionWild birdsSelective pressureSequencing dataDefective genomesDifferent hosts