title: Viral biocontrol: grand experiments in disease emergence and evolution.
abstract: Although viral emergence is commonly associated with cross-species transmission, the processes and determinants of viral evolution in a novel host environment are poorly understood. We address key questions in virus emergence and evolution using data generated from two unique natural experiments: the deliberate release of myxoma virus (MYXV) and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) as biological control (biocontrol) agents against the European rabbit in Australia, and which have been of enormous benefit to Australia's ecosystem and agricultural industries. Notably, although virulence evolution in MYXV and RHDV followed different trajectories, a strongly parallel evolutionary process was observed in Australia and Europe. These biocontrol agents were also characterized by a lack of transmission to nontarget host species, suggesting that there are major barriers to successful emergence.
authors.affiliation: Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Biological Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Giallonardo
authors.affiliation: Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Biological Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: edward.holmes@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Edward C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005060:Europe; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017929:Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Rabbit / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009233:Myxoma virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009234:Myxomatosis, Infectious / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011817:Rabbits; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents
keywords: biocontrol; emergence; evolution; rabbit; virus