Viral infections are marked by continuous evolution and adaptation to ever-changing environments. To thrive, viruses must successfully replicate across diverse tissues that are constantly altered by the infection itself. Studying how viruses adapt to these challenges not only deepens our understanding of viral pathogenesis but also informs the development of innovative antiviral therapies and live-attenuated vaccines. To advance this knowledge, we employ experimental evolution models and create computational tools to analyze the mutation profiles of RNA viruses, shedding light on their adaptability and mechanisms of survival.

Related Publications

Acevedo, A., Brodsky, L., Andino, R., 2014. Mutational and fitness landscapes of an RNA virus revealed through population sequencing. Nature 505, 686–690. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12861

Stern, A., Bianco, S., Yeh, M.T., Wright, C., Butcher, K., Tang, C., Nielsen, R., Andino, R., 2014. Costs and Benefits of Mutational Robustness in RNA Viruses. Cell Rep. 8, 1026–1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2014.07.011

Stern, A., Yeh, M.T., Zinger, T., Smith, M., Wright, C., Ling, G., Nielsen, R., Macadam, A., Andino, R., 2017. The Evolutionary Pathway to Virulence of an RNA Virus. Cell 169, 35-46.e19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.013