Viral host specific evolution: A case of honeybee virus

• Main Authors: Chantawannakul P., Cutler R.
• Format: Chapter
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84895341168&origin=inward; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/38716
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

The interactions between a host and parasite are one phenomena which can be observed at the genetic level. Specifically, in host parasite system there are evolutionary forces which specifically act at synonymous codon positions. In our study, we demonstrate that host specific viral genomes can optimize codon usage to successfully parasitize their preferred host. The codon usage co-evolution of host specific honeybee viruses towards the codon usage of the honeybee described in this chapter is evidence for codon usage correlation between an insect host and a single stranded RNA virus. Similar relationships have also been reported in other group of viruses. Such mechanisms could well-explain the host specificity of some virus families and their specificity of disease transmission. © 2010 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.