title: Virus evolution and transmission in an ever more connected world.
abstract: The frequency and global impact of infectious disease outbreaks, particularly those caused by emerging viruses, demonstrate the need for a better understanding of how spatial ecology and pathogen evolution jointly shape epidemic dynamics. Advances in computational techniques and the increasing availability of genetic and geospatial data are helping to address this problem, particularly when both information sources are combined. Here, we review research at the intersection of evolutionary biology, human geography and epidemiology that is working towards an integrated view of spatial incidence, host mobility and viral genetic diversity. We first discuss how empirical studies have combined viral spatial and genetic data, focusing particularly on the contribution of evolutionary analyses to epidemiology and disease control. Second, we explore the interplay between virus evolution and global dispersal in more depth for two pathogens: human influenza A virus and chikungunya virus. We discuss the opportunities for future research arising from new analyses of human transportation and trade networks, as well as the associated challenges in accessing and sharing relevant spatial and genetic data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK oliver.pybus@zoo.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Oliver G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Pybus
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MA, USA Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tatem
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lemey
mesh_terms: D065632:Chikungunya Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000235:genetics; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D058974:Phylogeography; D014195:Travel; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: epidemiology; evolution; geography; phylogenetics; transmission; virus