Evolution of sex and the molecular clock in RNA viruses

Temporal analysis of bovine pestivirus diversity in Brazil

In this study, phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses of cattle pestiviruses (BVDV-1, 2 and HoBiPeV) originating in Brazil were used to investigate the temporal diversification of subgenotypes in the country. Inferred dated phylogeny and time of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) demonstrated that some BVDV subgenotypes (1a, 1b, 1d, 1e, and 2b) and HoBi-like sequences clustered according to the region in which they were collected and that the diversification of subgenotypes appears to have occurred around the introduction of first Bos taurus and then Bos indicus, followed by expansion to form the adapted Brazilian breeds. The present results help to elucidate the temporal facts that led to diversification of ruminant pestiviruses in cattle in Brazil.

Mammalian Orthoreovirus Reassortment Proceeds with Little Constraint on Segment Mixing

Segmentation of viral genomes provides the potential for genetic exchange within coinfected cells. However, for this potential to be realized, coinfecting genomes must mix during the viral life cycle. The efficiency of reassortment, in turn, dictates its potential to drive evolution. The opportunity for mixing within coinfected cells may vary greatly across virus families, such that the evolutionary implications of genome segmentation differ as a result of core features of the viral life cycle. To investigate the relationship between viral replication compartments and genetic exchange, we quantified reassortment in mammalian orthoreovirus (reovirus). Reoviruses carry a 10-segmented, double-stranded RNA genome, which is replicated within proteinaceous structures termed inclusion bodies. We hypothesized that inclusions impose a barrier to reassortment. We quantified reassortment between wild-type (wt) and variant (var) reoviruses that differ by one nucleotide per segment. Studies of wt/var systems in both T1L and T3D backgrounds revealed frequent reassortment without bias toward particular genotypes. However, reassortment was more efficient in the T3D serotype. Since T1L and T3D viruses exhibit different inclusion body morphologies, we tested the impact of this phenotype on reassortment. In both serotypes, reassortment levels did not differ by inclusion morphology. Reasoning that the merging of viral inclusions may be critical for genome mixing, we then tested the effect of blocking merging. Reassortment proceeded efficiently even under these conditions. Our findings indicate that reovirus reassortment is highly efficient despite the localization of many viral processes to inclusion bodies, and that the robustness of this genetic exchange is independent of inclusion body structure and fusion. IMPORTANCE Quantification of reassortment in diverse viral systems is critical to elucidate the implications of genome segmentation for viral evolution. In principle, genome segmentation offers a facile means of genetic exchange between coinfecting viruses. In practice, there may be physical barriers within the cell that limit the mixing of viral genomes. Here, we tested the hypothesis that localization of the various stages of the mammalian orthoreovirus life cycle within cytoplasmic inclusion bodies compartmentalizes viral replication and limits genetic exchange. Contrary to this hypothesis, our data indicate that reovirus reassortment occurs readily within coinfected cells and is not strongly affected by the structure or dynamics of viral inclusion bodies. We conclude that the potential for reassortment to contribute to reovirus evolution is high.

Insights into the origin and diversification of bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 subtypes

In this study, we performed phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis on bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV-1) sequences to investigate the origin and temporal diversification of different BVDV-1 subtypes. Dated phylogenies using the complete polyprotein sequence were reconstructed, and the time of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) was estimated. The results demonstrated that BVDV-1 subtypes clustered into two phylogenetic clades, where the predominant subtypes worldwide grouped together. In the temporal analysis, the tMRCA of BVDV-1 was 1336, and the diversification into different subtypes appears to have occurred around 363 years ago. The present results help to elucidate the origins of BVDV-1 subtypes and the dynamics of ruminant pestiviruses.

An Extended Primer Grip of Picornavirus Polymerase Facilitates Sexual RNA Replication Mechanisms

Picornaviruses have both asexual and sexual RNA replication mechanisms. Asexual RNA replication mechanisms involve one parental template, whereas sexual RNA replication mechanisms involve two or more parental templates. Because sexual RNA replication mechanisms counteract ribavirin-induced error catastrophe, we selected for ribavirin-resistant poliovirus to identify polymerase residues that facilitate sexual RNA replication mechanisms. We used serial passage in ribavirin, beginning with a variety of ribavirin-sensitive and ribavirin-resistant parental viruses. Ribavirin-sensitive virus contained an L420A polymerase mutation, while ribavirin-resistant virus contained a G64S polymerase mutation. A G64 codon mutation (G64Fix) was used to inhibit emergence of G64S-mediated ribavirin resistance. Revertants (L420) or pseudorevertants (L420V and L420I) were selected from all independent lineages of L420A, G64Fix L420A, and G64S L420A parental viruses. Ribavirin resistance G64S mutations were selected in two independent lineages, and novel ribavirin resistance mutations were selected in the polymerase in other lineages (M299I, M323I, M392V, and T353I). The structural orientation of M392, immediately adjacent to L420 and the polymerase primer grip region, led us to engineer additional polymerase mutations into poliovirus (M392A, M392L, M392V, K375R, and R376K). L420A revertants and pseudorevertants (L420V and L420I) restored efficient viral RNA recombination, confirming that ribavirin-induced error catastrophe coincides with defects in sexual RNA replication mechanisms. Viruses containing M392 mutations (M392A, M392L, and M392V) and primer grip mutations (K375R and R376K) exhibited divergent RNA recombination, ribavirin sensitivity, and biochemical phenotypes, consistent with changes in the fidelity of RNA synthesis. We conclude that an extended primer grip of the polymerase, including L420, M392, K375, and R376, contributes to the fidelity of RNA synthesis and to efficient sexual RNA replication mechanisms.IMPORTANCE Picornaviruses have both asexual and sexual RNA replication mechanisms. Sexual RNA replication shapes picornavirus species groups, contributes to the emergence of vaccine-derived polioviruses, and counteracts error catastrophe. Can viruses distinguish between homologous and nonhomologous partners during sexual RNA replication? We implicate an extended primer grip of the viral polymerase in sexual RNA replication mechanisms. By sensing RNA sequence complementarity near the active site, the extended primer grip of the polymerase has the potential to distinguish between homologous and nonhomologous RNA templates during sexual RNA replication.

The genomic constellation of a novel duck reovirus strain associated with hemorrhagic necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis in Muscovy ducklings in Fujian, China

The complete sequence of a reovirus, strain NP03 associated with necrotic focus formation in the liver and spleen of Muscovy ducklings in Fujian Province, China in 2009, was determined and compared with sequences of other waterfowl and chicken-origin avian reoviruses (ARVs). Sequencing of the complete genomes of strain NP03 showed that they consisted of 23,418 bp and were divided into 10 segments, ranging from 1191 bp (S4) to 3959 bp (L1) in length, and all segments contained conserved sequences in the 5' non-coding region (GCUUUU) and 3' non-coding region (UCAUC). Pairwise sequence comparisons demonstrated that NP03 strain showed the highest similarity with novel waterfowl origin reoviruses (WRVs). The genome analysis revealed that the S1 segment of novel WRV is a tricistronic gene, encoding the overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) for p10, p18, and σC, similar to the ARV S1 gene, but distinct from classical WRV S4 genome segment, which contained two overlapping ORFs encoding p10 and σC. Phylogenetic analyses of the nucleotide sequences of all 10 segments revealed that NP03 strain was clustered together with other novel WRVs and were distinct from classical WRVs and chicken-origin ARVs. The analyses also showed possible intra-segmental reassortment events in the segments encoding λA, λB, μB, μNS, σA, and σNS between novel and classical WRVs. Potential recombination events detection in segment L1 suggests that NP03 strain may be recombinants of novel WRVs. Based on our genetic analyses, multiple reassortment events, intra-segmental recombination, and accumulation of point mutations have possibly contributed to the emergence of this novel genotype of WRV, identified in China.

Picornavirus RNA Recombination Counteracts Error Catastrophe

Template-dependent RNA replication mechanisms render picornaviruses susceptible to error catastrophe, an overwhelming accumulation of mutations incompatible with viability. Viral RNA recombination, in theory, provides a mechanism for viruses to counteract error catastrophe. We tested this theory by exploiting well-defined mutations in the poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP), namely, a G64S mutation and an L420A mutation. Our data reveal two distinct mechanisms by which picornaviral RDRPs influence error catastrophe: fidelity of RNA synthesis and RNA recombination. A G64S mutation increased the fidelity of the viral polymerase and rendered the virus resistant to ribavirin-induced error catastrophe, but only when RNA recombination was at wild-type levels. An L420A mutation in the viral polymerase inhibited RNA recombination and exacerbated ribavirin-induced error catastrophe. Furthermore, when RNA recombination was substantially reduced by an L420A mutation, a high-fidelity G64S polymerase failed to make the virus resistant to ribavirin. These data indicate that viral RNA recombination is required for poliovirus to evade ribavirin-induced error catastrophe. The conserved nature of L420 within RDRPs suggests that RNA recombination is a common mechanism for picornaviruses to counteract and avoid error catastrophe.IMPORTANCE Positive-strand RNA viruses produce vast amounts of progeny in very short periods of time via template-dependent RNA replication mechanisms. Template-dependent RNA replication, while efficient, can be disadvantageous due to error-prone viral polymerases. The accumulation of mutations in viral RNA genomes leads to error catastrophe. In this study, we substantiate long-held theories regarding the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual replication strategies among RNA viruses. In particular, we show that picornavirus RNA recombination counteracts the negative consequences of asexual template-dependent RNA replication mechanisms, namely, error catastrophe.

Astrovirus evolution and emergence

Astroviruses are small, non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the Astroviridae family. Astroviruses infect diverse hosts and are typically associated with gastrointestinal illness; although disease can range from asymptomatic to encephalitis depending on the host and viral genotype. Astroviruses have high genetic variability due to an error prone polymerase and frequent recombination events between strains. Once thought to be species specific, recent evidence suggests astroviruses can spread between different host species, although the frequency with which this occurs and the restrictions that regulate the process are unknown. Recombination events can lead to drastic evolutionary changes and contribute to cross-species transmission events. This work reviews the current state of research on astrovirus evolution and emergence, especially as it relates to cross-species transmission and recombination of astroviruses.

Traces of history conserved over 600 years in the geographic distribution of genetic variants of an RNA virus: Bovine viral diarrhea virus in Switzerland

The first records of smallpox and rabies date back thousands of years and foot-and-mouth disease in cattle was described in the 16th century. These diseases stood out by their distinct signs, dramatic way of transmission from rabid dogs to humans, and sudden appearance in cattle herds. By contrast, infectious diseases that show variable signs and affect few individuals were identified only much later. Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), endemic in cattle worldwide, was first described in 1946, together with the eponymous RNA virus as its cause. There is general agreement that BVD was not newly emerging at that time, but its history remains unknown. A search for associations between the nucleotide sequences of over 7,000 BVD viral strains obtained during a national campaign to eradicate BVD and features common to the hosts of these strains enabled us to trace back in time the presence of BVD in the Swiss cattle population. We found that animals of the two major traditional cattle breeds, Fleckvieh and Swiss Brown, were infected with strains of only four different subgenotypes of BVDV-1. The history of these cattle breeds and the events that determined the current distribution of the two populations are well documented. Specifically, Fleckvieh originates from the Bernese and Swiss Brown from the central Alps. The spread to their current geographic distribution was determined by historic events during a major expansion of the Swiss Confederation during the 15th and 16th centuries. The association of the two cattle populations with different BVD viral subgenotypes may have been preserved by a lack of cattle imports, trade barriers within the country, and unique virus-host interactions. The congruent traces of history in the distribution of the two cattle breeds and distinct viral subgenotypes suggests that BVD may have been endemic in Switzerland for at least 600 years.

Internal Disequilibria and Phenotypic Diversification during Replication of Hepatitis C Virus in a Noncoevolving Cellular Environment

Viral quasispecies evolution upon long-term virus replication in a noncoevolving cellular environment raises relevant general issues, such as the attainment of population equilibrium, compliance with the molecular-clock hypothesis, or stability of the phenotypic profile. Here, we evaluate the adaptation, mutant spectrum dynamics, and phenotypic diversification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the course of 200 passages in human hepatoma cells in an experimental design that precluded coevolution of the cells with the virus. Adaptation to the cells was evidenced by increase in progeny production. The rate of accumulation of mutations in the genomic consensus sequence deviated slightly from linearity, and mutant spectrum analyses revealed a complex dynamic of mutational waves, which was sustained beyond passage 100. The virus underwent several phenotypic changes, some of which impacted the virus-host relationship, such as enhanced cell killing, a shift toward higher virion density, and increased shutoff of host cell protein synthesis. Fluctuations in progeny production and failure to reach population equilibrium at the genomic level suggest internal instabilities that anticipate an unpredictable HCV evolution in the complex liver environment.IMPORTANCE Long-term virus evolution in an unperturbed cellular environment can reveal features of virus evolution that cannot be explained by comparing natural viral isolates. In the present study, we investigate genetic and phenotypic changes that occur upon prolonged passage of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human hepatoma cells in an experimental design in which host cell evolutionary change is prevented. Despite replication in a noncoevolving cellular environment, the virus exhibited internal population disequilibria that did not decline with increased adaptation to the host cells. The diversification of phenotypic traits suggests that disequilibria inherent to viral populations may provide a selective advantage to viruses that can be fully exploited in changing environments.

Phylogenetic analysis, genomic diversity and classification of M class gene segments of turkey reoviruses

From 2011 to 2014, 13 turkey arthritis reoviruses (TARVs) were isolated from cases of swollen hock joints in 2-18-week-old turkeys. In addition, two isolates from similar cases of turkey arthritis were received from another laboratory. Eight turkey enteric reoviruses (TERVs) isolated from fecal samples of turkeys were also used for comparison. The aims of this study were to characterize turkey reovirus (TRV) based on complete M class genome segments and to determine genetic diversity within TARVs in comparison to TERVs and chicken reoviruses (CRVs). Nucleotide (nt) cut off values of 84%, 83% and 85% for the M1, M2 and M3 gene segments were proposed and used for genotype classification, generating 5, 7, and 3 genotypes, respectively. Using these nt cut off values, we propose M class genotype constellations (GCs) for avian reoviruses. Of the seven GCs, GC1 and GC3 were shared between the TARVs and TERVs, indicating possible reassortment between turkey and chicken reoviruses. The TARVs and TERVs were divided into three GCs, and GC2 was unique to TARVs and TERVs. The proposed new GC approach should be useful in identifying reassortant viruses, which may ultimately be used in the design of a universal vaccine against both chicken and turkey reoviruses.

Molecular evolutionary history of Sugarcane yellow leaf virus based on sequence analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and putative aphid transmission factor-coding genes

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) encoded by ORF2 and putative aphid transmission factor (PATF) encoded by ORF5 of Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) were detected in six sugarcane cultivars affected by yellow leaf using RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR assays. Expression of both genes varied among infected plants, but overall expression of RdRp was higher than expression of PATF. Cultivar H87-4094 from Hawaii yielded the highest transcript levels of RdRp, whereas cultivar C1051-73 from Cuba exhibited the lowest levels. Sequence comparisons among 25 SCYLV isolates from various geographical locations revealed an amino acid similarity of 72.1-99.4 and 84.7-99.8 % for the RdRp and PATF genes, respectively. The 25 SCYLV isolates were separated into three (RdRp) and two (PATF) phylogenetic groups using the MEGA6 program that does not account for genetic recombination. However, the SCYLV genome contained potential recombination signals in the RdRp and PATF coding genes based on the GARD genetic algorithm. Use of this later program resulted in the reconstruction of phylogenies on the left as well as on the right sides of the putative recombination breaking points, and the 25 SCYLV isolates were distributed into three distinct phylogenetic groups based on either RdRp or PATF sequences. As a result, recombination reshuffled the affiliation of the accessions to the different clusters. Analysis of selection pressures exerted on RdRp and PATF encoded proteins revealed that ORF 2 and ORF 5 underwent predominantly purifying selection. However, a few sites were also under positive selection as assessed by various models such as FEL, IFEL, REL, FUBAR, MEME, GA-Branch, and PRIME.

Analysis of human rotaviruses from a single location over an 18-year time span suggests that protein coadaption influences gene constellations

Rotaviruses (RVs) are 11-segmented, double-stranded RNA viruses that cause severe gastroenteritis in children. In addition to an error-prone genome replication mechanism, RVs can increase their genetic diversity by reassorting genes during host coinfection. Such exchanges allow RVs to acquire advantageous genes and adapt in the face of selective pressures. However, reassortment may also impose fitness costs if it unlinks genes/proteins that have accumulated compensatory, coadaptive mutations and that operate best when kept together. To better understand human RV evolutionary dynamics, we analyzed the genome sequences of 135 strains (genotype G1/G3/G4-P[8]-I1-C1-R1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1) that were collected at a single location in Washington, DC, during the years 1974 to 1991. Intragenotypic phylogenetic trees were constructed for each viral gene using the nucleotide sequences, thereby defining novel allele level gene constellations (GCs) and illuminating putative reassortment events. The results showed that RVs with distinct GCs cocirculated during the vast majority of the collection years and that some of these GCs persisted in the community unchanged by reassortment. To investigate the influence of protein coadaptation on GC maintenance, we performed a mutual information-based analysis of the concatenated amino acid sequences and identified an extensive covariance network. Unexpectedly, amino acid covariation was highest between VP4 and VP2, which are structural components of the RV virion that are not thought to directly interact. These results suggest that GCs may be influenced by the selective constraints placed on functionally coadapted, albeit noninteracting, viral proteins. This work raises important questions about mutation-reassortment interplay and its impact on human RV evolution.

IMPORTANCE

Rotaviruses are devastating human pathogens that cause severe diarrhea and kill >450,000 children each year. The virus can evolve by accumulating mutations and by acquiring new genes from other strains via a process called reassortment. However, little is known about the relationship between mutation accumulation and gene reassortment for rotaviruses and how it impacts viral evolution. In this study, we analyzed the genome sequences of human strains found in clinical fecal specimens that were collected at a single hospital over an 18-year time span. We found that many rotaviruses did not reassort their genes but instead maintained them as specific sets (i.e., constellations). By analyzing the encoded proteins, we discovered concurrent amino acid changes among them, which suggests that they are functionally coadapted to operate best when kept together. This study increases our understanding of how rotaviruses evolve over time in the human population.

Evidence that the linker between the methyltransferase and helicase domains of potato virus X replicase is involved in homologous RNA recombination

Recombination in RNA viruses, one of the main factors contributing to their genetic variability and evolution, is a widespread phenomenon. In this study, an in vivo assay to characterize RNA recombination in potato virus X (PVX), under high selection pressure, was established. Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used to express in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue both a PVX isolate labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) containing a coat protein deletion mutation (DeltaCP) and a transcript encoding a functional coat protein +3'-ntr. Coexpression of the constructs led to virus movement and systemic infection; reconstituted recombinants were observed in 92% of inoculated plants. Similar results were obtained using particle bombardment, demonstrating that recombination mediated by A. tumefaciens was not responsible for the occurrence of PXC recombinants. The speed of recombination could be estimated by agroinfection of two PVX mutants lacking the 3' and 5' halves of the genome, respectively, with an overlap in the triple gene block 1 gene, allowing GFP expression only in the case of recombination. Ten different pentapeptide insertion scanning replicase mutants with replication abilities comparable to wild-type virus were applied in the different recombination assays. Two neighboring mutants affecting the linker between the methyltransferase and helicase domains were shown to be strongly debilitated in their ability to recombine. The possible functional separation of replication and recombination in the replicase molecule supports the model that RNA recombination represents a distinct function of this protein, although the underlying mechanism still needs to be investigated.

The phylogenetic information profile of HIV-1 and the degradation effect of recombination

HIV-1, while known to recombine frequently and evolve rapidly, is one of the most sequenced organisms. The availability of many and long sequences (almost full-length) renders HIV-1 as a good model for studying theoretical predictions linked to evolution and phylogenetic inferences. Here we study the effects of rapid and through-recombination evolution on phylogenetic information in order to confirm theoretical predictions of the characteristics of phylogenetic information on a real dataset. Firstly we study the fluctuation of the phylogenetic information along the HIV-1 genome showing that genomic regions such as the first part and the last part of the pol gene contain less phylogenetic information, while the vpr, vpu and the first exon of the tat gene contain more phylogenetic information compared to the rest of the genome. Moreover, we provide evidence that phylogenetic information is correlated to the sequence similarity of the dataset used and is degraded by the effect of recombination.

Molecular characterization and evolutionary analysis of soybean mosaic virus infecting Pinellia ternata in China

Twenty-nine Pinellia ternata specimens were collected from representative areas in China, including the major production provinces of Zhejiang, Henan, Shanxi, Hunan, Shandong and Hubei. Seven isolates related to soybean mosaic virus (SMV), which could be pathogenic on P. ternata and some soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars, were detected using double antibody sandwich immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and RT-PCR amplification performed with degenerate primer of potyviruses. It is revealed that the common potyvirus infecting P. ternata is, indeed, only SMVs rather than Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV) as previously reported. Further molecular phylogenetic analysis of the coat protein (CP) genes of these SMV isolates from P. ternata and G. max, along with some other potyvirus members, such as DsMV and Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) reconstructed the evolutionary route on both nucleotide and amino acid levels. Similarity and homology of nucleotide sequences for SMV CP genes demonstrated high host correlation and low partial habitat correlation, while those of amino acid sequences also showed that the host correlation was more notable than the habitat correlation. The amino acid sequence of conserved region within CP determines the main function, which shows high homology between species. This study outspreaded from the viruses themselves and their relationship to the infected hosts and revealed the evolutionary strategies, especially the rapid variation or recombination of SMV of P. ternata, in order to adapt itself naturally to the special host.

More effective purifying selection on RNA viruses than in DNA viruses

Analysis of the pattern of nucleotide diversity in 222 independent viral sequence datasets showed the prevalence of purifying selection. In spite of the higher mutation rate of RNA viruses, our analyses revealed stronger evidence of the action of purifying selection in RNA viruses than in DNA viruses. The ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous nucleotide diversity was significantly lower in RNA viruses than in DNA viruses, indicating that nonsynonymous mutations have been removed at a greater rate (relative to the mutation rate) in the former than in the latter. Moreover, statistics that measure the occurrence of rare polymorphisms revealed significantly a greater excess of rare nonsynonymous polymorphisms in RNA viruses than in DNA viruses but no difference with respect to synonymous polymorphisms. Since rare nonsynonymous polymorphisms are likely to be undergoing the effects of purifying selection acting to eliminate them, this result implies a stronger signature of ongoing purifying selection in RNA viruses than in DNA viruses. Across datasets from both DNA viruses and RNA viruses, we found a negatively allometric relationship between nonsynonymous and synonymous nucleotide diversity; in other words, nonsynonymous nucleotide diversity increased with synonymous nucleotide diversity at a less than linear rate. These findings are most easily explained by the occurrence of slightly deleterious mutations. The fact that the negative allometry was more pronounced in RNA viruses than in DNA viruses provided additional evidence that purifying selection is more effective in the former than in the latter.

Dynamics of mutation and recombination in a replicating population of complementing, defective viral genomes

In a previous study, we documented that serial passage of a biological clone of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) at high multiplicity of infection (moi) in cell culture resulted in viral populations dominated by defective genomes that included internal in-frame deletions, affecting the L and capsid-coding regions, and were infectious by complementation. In the present study, analyses of the defective genomes present in individual viral plaques, and of consensus nucleotide sequences determined for the entire genomes of sequential samples, have revealed a continuous dynamics of mutation and recombination. At some points of high genetic instability, multiple minority genomes with different internal deletions co-existed in the population. At later passages, a new defective RNA arose and displaced a related, previously dominant RNA. Nucleotide sequences of the different genomic forms found in sequential isolates have revealed an accumulation of mutations at an average rate of 0.12 substitutions per genome per passage. At the regions around the deletion sites, substantial, minor or no nucleotide sequence identity is found, suggesting relaxed sequence requirements for the occurrence of internal deletions. Competition experiments indicate a selective advantage of late phase defective genomes over their precursor forms. The defective genome-based FMDV retained an expansion of host cell tropism, undergone by the standard virus at a previous stage of the same evolutionary lineage. Thus, despite a complex dynamics of mutation and recombination, and phases of high genetic instability, a biologically relevant phenotypic trait was stably maintained after the evolutionary transition towards a primitive genome segmentation. The results extend the concept of a complex spectrum of mutant genomes to a complex spectrum of defective genomes in some evolutionary transitions of RNA viruses.

Analyses on mutation patterns, detection of population bottlenecks, and suggestion of deleterious-compensatory evolution among members of the genus Potyvirus

Viruses of the family Potyviridae exhibited a robust single-nucleotide polymorphism profile at the between-species level, conforming to the neutral theory rule. However, the ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous mutations (Ka/Ks) were relatively greater between-species than within-species in viral cistrons examined from members of the genus Potyvirus, indicating a relaxation on constraint. Judged by the McDonald and Kreitman's test, the fixation frequencies for nonsynonymous mutations across the genomes of closely related potyviruses were greater than expected, suggesting population bottlenecks at speciation. These mutation patterns are best explained by a deleterious-compensatory model.

Diverse Mechanisms of RNA Recombination

Recombination is widespread among RNA viruses, but many molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon are still poorly understood. It was believed until recently that the only possible mechanism of RNA recombination is replicative template switching, with synthesis of a complementary strand starting on one viral RNA molecule and being completed on another. The newly synthesized RNA is a primary recombinant molecule in this case. Recent studies have revealed other mechanisms of replicative RNA recombination. In addition, recombination between the genomes of RNA viruses can be nonreplicative, resulting from a joining of preexisting parental molecules. Recombination is a potent tool providing for both the variation and conservation of the genome in RNA viruses. Replicative and nonreplicative mechanisms may contribute differently to each of these evolutionary processes. In the form of trans splicing, nonreplicative recombination of cell RNAs plays an important role in at least some organisms. It is conceivable that RNA recombination continues to contribute to the evolution of DNA genomes.

Phylogenomics and bioinformatics of SARS-CoV

Tracing the history of molecular changes in coronaviruses using phylogenetic methods can provide powerful insights into the patterns of modification to sequences that underlie alteration to selective pressure and molecular function in the SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) genome. The topology and branch lengths of the phylogenetic relationships among the family Coronaviridae, including SARS-CoV, have been estimated using the replicase polyprotein. The spike protein fragments S1 (involved in receptor-binding) and S2 (involved in membrane fusion) have been found to have different mutation rates. Fragment S1 can be further divided into two regions (S1A, which comprises approximately the first 400 nucleotides, and S1B, comprising the next 280) that also show different rates of mutation. The phylogeny presented on the basis of S1B shows that SARS-CoV is closely related to MHV (murine hepatitis virus), which is known to bind the murine receptor CEACAM1. The predicted structure, accessibility and mutation rate of the S1B region is also presented. Because anti-SARS drugs based on S2 heptads have short half-lives and are difficult to manufacture, our findings suggest that the S1B region might be of interest for anti-SARS drug discovery.

Molecular population genetics of Cucumber mosaic virus in California: evidence for founder effects and reassortment

The structure and genetic diversity of a California Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) population was assessed by single-strand conformation polymorphism and nucleotide sequence analyses of genomic regions 2b, CP, MP, and the 3' nontranslated region of RNA3. The California CMV population exhibited low genetic diversity and was composed of one to three predominant haplotypes and a large number of minor haplotypes for specific genomic regions. Extremely low diversity and close evolutionary relationships among isolates in a subpopulation suggested that founder effects might play a role in shaping the genetic structure. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a naturally occurring reassortant between subgroup IA and IB isolates and potential reassortants between subgroup IA isolates, suggesting that genetic exchange by reassortment contributed to the evolution of the California CMV population. Analysis of various population genetics parameters and distribution of synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations revealed that different coding regions and even different parts of coding regions were under different evolutionary constraints, including a short region of the 2b gene for which evidence suggests possible positive selection.

The population genetics and evolutionary epidemiology of RNA viruses

The authors discuss the main mechanisms of RNA virus evolution — mutation, recombination, natural selection, genetic drift and migration, and how these interact to shape the genetic structure of populations. The quasispecies model of RNA virus evolution is explained and the question of whether this model provides an accurate description of RNA virus evolution is discussed. Experiments that can be carried out to test the basic principles of evolutionary theory are briefly described. The authors review what such experiments have told us about virus evolution and, more widely, what these experiments have revealed in terms of general evolutionary principles. RNA viruses evolve quickly, so a detailed reconstruction of their epidemiological history can be undertaken. The authors show how epidemiological patterns of viruses result from their evolution at two different levels: within individual hosts (and vectors) and among hosts at the population level. Using several examples, including HIV and SARS, the authors describe how studying RNA virus evolution could be used to understand virus emergence. Finally, the important topics of the evolution of virulence and resistance to drugs are discussed.

RNA viruses are ubiquitous intracellular parasites that are responsible for many emerging diseases, including AIDS and SARS. Here, we discuss the principal mechanisms of RNA virus evolution and highlight areas where future research is required. The rapidity of sequence change in RNA viruses means that they are useful experimental models for the study of evolution in general and it enables us to watch them change in 'real time', and retrace the spread through populations with molecular phylogenies. An understanding of the mechanisms of RNA virus sequence change is also crucial to predicting important aspects of their emergence and long-term evolution.

Methylation reveals a niche: stem cell succession in human colon crypts

Little it known about human stem cells although they are likely to be the earliest progenitors of carcinomas. Just as methylation can substitute for mutations to inactivate tumor suppressor genes, methylation can also substitute for mutations in a phylogenetic analysis. This review explains why stem cell dynamics may be important to tumor progression and how methylation patterns found in a normal human colon can be used to reconstruct the behavior of crypt stem cells. Histories are recorded in sequences and strategies used to reconstruct phylogenies from sequences likely apply to methylation patterns because both exhibit somatic inheritance. Such a quantitative analysis of colon methylation patterns infers stem cells live in niches containing multiple 'stem' cells. Although niche stem cell numbers remain constant, clonal succession is inherent to niches because periodically progeny from a single stem cell become dominant. These niche succession cycles may potentially accumulate multiple alterations because they resemble superficially the clonal succession of tumor progression except that they occur invisibly in the absence of selection or phenotypic change. Alterations without immediate selective value may hitchhike passively in the stem cells that become dominant during niche succession cycles. The inherent ability of a niche to fix alterations (Muller's ratchet) is another potential mechanism besides instability and selection to sequentially accumulate multiple alterations. Many alterations found in colorectal tumors may reflect such occult clonal progression in normal colon.

Distribution of spontaneous mutants and inferences about the replication mode of the RNA bacteriophage phi6

When a parent virus replicates inside its host, it must first use its own genome as the template for replication. However, once progeny genomes are produced, the progeny can in turn act as templates. Depending on whether the progeny genomes become templates, the distribution of mutants produced by an infection varies greatly. While information on the distribution is important for many population genetic models, it is also useful for inferring the replication mode of a virus. We have analyzed the distribution of mutants emerging from single bursts in the RNA bacteriophage phi6 and find that the distribution closely matches a Poisson distribution. The match suggests that replication in this bacteriophage is effectively by a stamping machine model in which the parental genome is the main template used for replication. However, because the distribution deviates slightly from a Poisson distribution, the stamping machine is not perfect and some progeny genomes must replicate. By fitting our data to a replication model in which the progeny genomes become replicative at a given rate or probability per round of replication, we estimated the rate to be very low and on the on the order of 10(-4). We discuss whether different replication modes may confer an adaptive advantage to viruses.

Biological timing and the clock metaphor: oscillatory and hourglass mechanisms

Living organisms have developed a multitude of timing mechanisms--"biological clocks." Their mechanisms are based on either oscillations (oscillatory clocks) or unidirectional processes (hourglass clocks). Oscillatory clocks comprise circatidal, circalunidian, circadian, circalunar, and circannual oscillations--which keep time with environmental periodicities--as well as ultradian oscillations, ovarian cycles, and oscillations in development and in the brain, which keep time with biological timescales. These clocks mainly determine time points at specific phases of their oscillations. Hourglass clocks are predominantly found in development and aging and also in the brain. They determine time intervals (duration). More complex timing systems combine oscillatory and hourglass mechanisms, such as the case for cell cycle, sleep initiation, or brain clocks, whereas others combine external and internal periodicities (photoperiodism, seasonal reproduction). A definition of a biological clock may be derived from its control of functions external to its own processes and its use in determining temporal order (sequences of events) or durations. Biological and chemical oscillators are characterized by positive and negative feedback (or feedforward) mechanisms. During evolution, living organisms made use of the many existing oscillations for signal transmission, movement, and pump mechanisms, as well as for clocks. Some clocks, such as the circadian clock, that time with environmental periodicities are usually compensated (stabilized) against temperature, whereas other clocks, such as the cell cycle, that keep time with an organismic timescale are not compensated. This difference may be related to the predominance of negative feedback in the first class of clocks and a predominance of positive feedback (autocatalytic amplification) in the second class. The present knowledge of a compensated clock (the circadian oscillator) and an uncompensated clock (the cell cycle), as well as relevant models, are briefly re viewed. Hourglass clocks are based on linear or exponential unidirectional processes that trigger events mainly in the course of development and aging. An important hourglass mechanism within the aging process is the limitation of cell division capacity by the length of telomeres. The mechanism of this clock is briefly reviewed. In all clock mechanisms, thresholds at which "dependent variables" are triggered play an important role.

Evolvability of an RNA virus is determined by its mutational neighbourhood

The ubiquity of mechanisms that generate genetic variation has spurred arguments that evolvability, the ability to generate adaptive variation, has itself evolved in response to natural selection. The high mutation rate of RNA viruses is postulated to be an adaptation for evolvability, but the paradox is that whereas some RNA viruses evolve at high rates, others are highly stable. Here we show that evolvability in the RNA bacteriophage phi6 is also determined by the accessibility of advantageous genotypes within the mutational neighbourhood (the set of mutants one or a few mutational steps away). We found that two phi6 populations that were derived from a single ancestral phage repeatedly evolved at different rates and toward different fitness maxima. Fitness measurements of individual phages showed that the fitness distribution of mutants differed between the two populations. Whereas population A, which evolved toward a higher maximum, had a distribution that contained many advantageous mutants, population B, which evolved toward a lower maximum, had a distribution that contained only deleterious mutants. We interpret these distributions to measure the fitness effects of genotypes that are mutationally available to the two populations. Thus, the evolvability of phi6 is constrained by the distribution of its mutational neighbours, despite the fact that this phage has the characteristic high mutation rate of RNA viruses.

Evolution of circulating wild poliovirus and of vaccine-derived poliovirus in an immunodeficient patient: a unifying model

We determined nucleotide sequences of the VP1 and 2AB genes and portions of the 2C and 3D genes of two evolving poliovirus lineages: circulating wild viruses of T geotype and Sabin vaccine-derived isolates from an immunodeficient patient. Different regions of the viral RNA were found to evolve nonsynchronously, and the rate of evolution of the 2AB region in the vaccine-derived population was not constant throughout its history. Synonymous replacements occurred not completely randomly, suggesting the need for conservation of certain rare codons (possibly to control translation elongation) and the existence of unidentified constraints in the viral RNA structure. Nevertheless the major contribution to the evolution of the two lineages came from linear accumulation of synonymous substitutions. Therefore, in agreement with current theories of viral evolution, we suggest that the majority of the mutations in both lineages were fixed as a result of successive sampling, from the heterogeneous populations, of random portions containing predominantly neutral and possibly adverse mutations. As a result of such a mode of evolution, the virus fitness may be maintained at a more or less constant level or may decrease unless more-fit variants are stochastically generated. The proposed unifying model of natural poliovirus evolution has important implications for the epidemiology of poliomyelitis.

A theoretical study of random segregation of minicircles in trypanosomatids

The kinetoplast (k) DNA network of trypanosomatids is made up of approximately 50 maxicircles and the order of 10(4) minicircles. It has been proposed, based on various observations and experiments, that the minicircles are randomly segregated between daughter cells when the parent cell divides. In this paper, this random segregation hypothesis is theoretically tested in a population dynamics model to see if it can account for the observed phenomena. The hypothesis is shown to successfully explain, in Leishmania tarentolae, the observation that there are a few major and many minor minicircle classes, the fluctuations of minicircle class copy numbers over time, the loss of non-essential minicircle classes, the long survival times of a few of these classes and that these classes are likely to be the major classes within the population. Implications of the model are examined for trypanosomatids in general, leading to several predictions. The model predicts variation in network size within a population, variation in the average network size and large-scale changes in class copy number over long time-scales, an evolutionary pressure towards larger network sizes, the selective advantage of non-random over random segregation, very strong selection for the amplified class in Crithidia fasciculata if its minicircles undergo random segregation and that Trypanosoma brucei may use sexual reproduction to maintain its viability.

Multiple molecular pathways for fitness recovery of an RNA virus debilitated by operation of Muller's ratchet

Repeated bottleneck passages of RNA viruses result in fitness losses due to accumulation of deleterious mutations. We have analysed the molecular events underlying fitness recovery of a highly debilitated foot- and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) clone, upon serial passage in BHK-21 cells. The debilitated clone included an unusual, internal polyadenylate extension preceding the second functional AUG initiation codon, and a number of additional mutations scattered throughout the genome. Comparison of entire genomic nucleotide sequences in the course of passaging documented that loss of the internal polyadenylate was the first event in the process of fitness recovery. Further increases of fitness were associated with very few true reversions and with the accumulation of additional mutations affecting non-coding and coding regions. Remarkably, four biological subclones of the same debilitated FMDV clone gained fitness through three separate molecular pathways regarding correction of the internal polyadenylate: (i) a true reversion to yield the wild-type sequence at the second functional AUG; (ii) a shortening of the internal polyadenylate tract; or (iii) a deletion of 69 residues spanning the site of the polyadenylate extension. The results document that an RNA virus can find multiple pathways to reach alternative high fitness peaks on the fitness landscape.

Emergence of recombinant strains of Helicobacter pylori during human infection

Genetic recombination can be important evolutionarily in speeding the adaptation of organisms to new environments and in purging deleterious mutations. Here, we describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR), hybridization and DNA sequence-based evidence of six such exchanges between two strains of Helicobacter pylori during natural mixed infection of a patient in Lithuania. One parent strain contained the 37 kb long, virulence-associated cag pathogenicity island (PAI), and the other strain lacked this PAI. Most H. pylori from the patient had descended from the cag+ parent, but had become cag- during infection. This had resulted from transfer of DNA containing the 'empty site' allele from the cag- strain and homologous recombination, not from excision of the cag PAI without DNA transfer. Other cases of recombination involved genes for an outer membrane protein (omp5 and omp29; also called HP0227 and HP1342) and a putative phosphoenolpyruvate synthase (ppsA; HP0121). Replacement of a short patch of DNA sequence (36-124 bp) was also seen. As the chance of forming any given recombinant is small, the abundance of recombinants in this patient suggests selection for particular recombinant genotypes during years of chronic infection. We suggest that genetic exchange among unrelated H. pylori strains, as documented here, is important because of the diversity of this gastric pathogen and its human hosts. Certain H. pylori recombinants may grow better in a given host than either parent. The vigour of growth, in turn, could impact on the severity of disease that infection can elicit.

PCR-based subtractive hybridization and differences in gene content among strains of Helicobacter pylori

Genes that are characteristic of only certain strains of a bacterial species can be of great biologic interest. Here we describe a PCR-based subtractive hybridization method for efficiently detecting such DNAs and apply it to the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Eighteen DNAs specific to a monkey-colonizing strain (J166) were obtained by subtractive hybridization against an unrelated strain whose genome has been fully sequenced (26695). Seven J166-specific clones had no DNA sequence match to the 26695 genome, and 11 other clones were mixed, with adjacent patches that did and did not match any sequences in 26695. At the protein level, seven clones had homology to putative DNA restriction-modification enzymes, and two had homology to putative metabolic enzymes. Nine others had no database match with proteins of assigned function. PCR tests of 13 unrelated H. pylori strains by using primers specific for 12 subtracted clones and complementary Southern blot hybridizations indicated that these DNAs are highly polymorphic in the H. pylori population, with each strain yielding a different pattern of gene-specific PCR amplification. The search for polymorphic DNAs, as described here, should help identify previously unknown virulence genes in pathogens and provide new insights into microbial genetic diversity and evolution.

Reductive evolution of resident genomes

Small, asexual populations are expected to accumulate deleterious substitutions and deletions in an irreversible manner, which in the long-term will lead to mutational meltdown and genome decay. Here, we discuss the influence of such reductive processes on the evolution of genomes that replicate within the domain of a host genome.