title: [Quasispecies and molecular evolution of viruses].
abstract: Ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses evolve as complex distributions of genetically different but closely related variants termed viral quasispecies. The precise genome of a quasispecies cannot be defined, since the consensus genome is an average of many variants. The dynamics of quasispecies has considerable implications for the understanding of the adaptability and pathogenic potential of viruses, and in addition, for the design of preventive and therapeutic measures for the diseases caused by these viruses. The authors summarise current knowledge on the structure of quasispecies, and the biological implications of this structure.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Jarabo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sobrino
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D004463:Ecology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral