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5 Viral challenges - Coggle Diagram
5 Viral challenges
First
Full genome sequences helps track when a variant might spread.
RNA viruses have simple genomes leading to a perfect variant to test data in the lab and in nature.
(Improving the ability to predict viral evolution)
Transmission from animals to humans is harder to predict because there are a lot of wildlife viruses.
Studying viruses and using experimental virus tools through machines will help in the future.
Fourth
There is a lot about viruses that we don't understand and when put into numbers, we know less than one percent about them.
Information needs to come from new viruses. The sequence maps we currently have contain a lot of unknown entities.
(The viral part of the biosphere needs more understanding)
Using artificial networks to discover new DNA viruses has been done.
The phylogenetic trees of viruses in other ecosystems is what will be worked on in the future more.
Second
Information and data about a virus can be conducted in labs along with non-viral systems.
(Creating more relevant systems based on evolution through experiments)
Creating viral diversity in labs can create experimental evolution.
One concern is that how the virus reacts in the lab might be different in nature because of selective pressures.
Most viruses in nature have not been worked on in the lab or cultured.
Fifth
Sometimes a virus is more successful when there is another virus present.
Some virus-virus strains are from the same species.
(Understanding virus to virus interactions)
Understanding the evolution of virus-virus interactions relies on understanding their anatomy.
There needs to be an increase of knowledge about horizontal gene transfers.
Third
Finding common events throughout evolution has helped.
The infection cycle of the virus and the observable fitness are hard to link together.
There is inconsistency with the time scale for a seasonal virus versus one that has been stuck in the ice.
It's hard to measure the fitness of the virus using the scales right now.
(Using different time scales)
Information
Working on all five of the challenges together can help scientists understand viral evolution, predict it, and understand viral diversity.
Viral diseases in the future can be controlled and understood more if we improve our understanding of the five challenges.
Viruses are genetically diverse and are quick to evolve, especially RNA viruses.
Readers thoughts
If understanding these viral challenges can help our understanding of viral evolution more and help with creating vaccines for the world, why isn't there more funding in this?
Why is it hard to manipulate a nature environment for a virus in the lab to then study?
Literature cited
Sanjuán R, Illingworth CJ, Geoghegan JL, Iranzo J, Zwart MP, Ciota AT, Moratorio G, Gago-Zachert S, Duffy S, Vijaykrishna D. Five challenges in the field of viral diversity and evolution. Frontiers in Virology. 2021;1. doi:10.3389/fviro.2021.684949
(Sanjuán et al. 2021)