Work

Positive Darwinian evolution in human influenza A viruses.

Year: 1991

Type: article

Abstract: We earlier suggested that type A human influenza virus genes undergo positive Darwinian selection through immune surveillance. This requires more favorable amino acid replacements fixed in antigenic sites among the surviving lineages than among the extinct lineages. We now show that viral hemagglutinins fix proportionately more amino acid replacements in antigenic sites in the trunk of the evolutionary tree (survivors) than in the branches (nonsurvivors), demonstrating that type A human influenza virus is undergoing positive Darwinian evolution. The hemagglutinin gene is evolving 3 times faster than the nonstructural gene and the average age of the sampled nonsurvivors is only 1.6 years, so that extinction is not only common but rapid.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.88.10.4270

Authors: W M Fitch, J M Leiter, X Q Li, P Palese

Institution: University of California, Irvine

Language: English

Topic: Evolution and Genetic Dynamics

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases