TY - CHAP
T1 - Quasispecies dynamics of RNA viruses
AU - Martínez, Miguel Angel
AU - Martrus, Gloria
AU - Capel, Elena
AU - Parera, Mariona
AU - Franco, Sandra
AU - Nevot, Maria
PY - 2012/11/1
Y1 - 2012/11/1
N2 - © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. All rights reserved. RNA viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, influenza virus, and poliovirus replicate with very high mutation rates and exhibit very high genetic diversity. The extremely high genetic diversity of RNA virus populations originates that they replicate as complex mutant spectra known as viral quasispecies. The quasispecies dynamics of RNA viruses are closely related to viral pathogenesis and disease, and antiviral treatment strategies. Over the past several decades, the quasispecies concept has been expanded to provide an adequate framework to explain complex behavior of RNA virus populations. Recently, the quasispecies concept has been used to study other complex biological systems, such as tumor cells, bacteria, and prions. Here, we focus on some questions regarding viral and theoretical quasispecies concepts, as well as more practical aspects connected to pathogenesis and resistance to antiviral treatments. A better knowledge of virus diversification and evolution may be critical in preventing and treating the spread of pathogenic viruses.
AB - © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. All rights reserved. RNA viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, influenza virus, and poliovirus replicate with very high mutation rates and exhibit very high genetic diversity. The extremely high genetic diversity of RNA virus populations originates that they replicate as complex mutant spectra known as viral quasispecies. The quasispecies dynamics of RNA viruses are closely related to viral pathogenesis and disease, and antiviral treatment strategies. Over the past several decades, the quasispecies concept has been expanded to provide an adequate framework to explain complex behavior of RNA virus populations. Recently, the quasispecies concept has been used to study other complex biological systems, such as tumor cells, bacteria, and prions. Here, we focus on some questions regarding viral and theoretical quasispecies concepts, as well as more practical aspects connected to pathogenesis and resistance to antiviral treatments. A better knowledge of virus diversification and evolution may be critical in preventing and treating the spread of pathogenic viruses.
U2 - 10.1007/978-94-007-4899-6_2
DO - 10.1007/978-94-007-4899-6_2
M3 - Chapter
SN - 9789400748996
SN - 9400748981
SN - 9789400748989
VL - 9789400748996
SP - 21
EP - 42
BT - Viruses: Essential Agents of Life
ER -