2011/01/16 by Samuel Ojosnegros, Ojosnegros, Samuel, Edgar Delgado‐Eckert +3
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Medicine · #Bacteriophages and microbial interactions #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics #FOS: Biological sciences #Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models #Populations and Evolution (q-bio.PE)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1101.3065
openalex publication_date 2011/01/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
RNA viruses exist as genetically diverse populations displaying different\nphenotypes, including diverse degrees of virulence. The evolution of virulence\nin viral populations is, however, poorly understood. Based on the experimental\nobservation of an RNA virus clone in cell culture diversifying into two\nsubpopulations of different virulence, we study the dynamics of heterogeneous\nvirus populations and the evolution of virulence. We introduce a\ncompetition-colonization trade-off into standard mathematical models of\nintra-host viral infection. Colonizers are fast spreading, virulent strains,\nwhereas competitors are less virulent variants that are more successful within\ncoinfected cells. We observe biphasic dynamics of the population: Early in the\ninfection the population is dominated by colonizers, which later will be\noutcompeted by competitors. The simulations suggest the existence of a steady\nstate where few low-virulence variants coexist. This equilibrium implies\ncollective virulence attenuation in the population, in contrast to previous\nmodels predicting development of the population towards increased virulence.\nNevertheless, the attenuation effect disappears if we include a highly\nsimplified immune response in our models. Thus, the competition-colonization\ntrade-off indicates a role for virulence in the modulation of the viral\npopulation diversity. The evolution of virulence is a dynamic feature of the\npopulation shaped by interactions between individuals and by the structure of\nthe patchy habitat.\n