About this Research Topic
Given the success of Volume I of this Research Topic, and the rapidly evolving subject area, we are pleased to announce the launch of Volume II: Viruses, Genetic Exchange, and the Tree of Life.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a grim reminder of the constant threat posed by the unexpected emergence, evolution, and spread of novel viral pathogens in human societies. The pandemic has rekindled public’s interest in exploring virus origins, evolutions, definitions, and classifications. Surprisingly, these questions, while seemingly straightforward, remain hotly debated among virologists and evolutionary biologists.
In this Research Topic, we aim to address these fundamental and long-standing biological questions. We aim to build on Volume of I of the Special Issue to develop a unique resource that will host latest data- driven and theoretical research on the following evolutionary virology questions that are relevant from both basic and public health perspectives:
(1) The origin, evolution, classification, and definitions of viruses
(2) The evolutionary relationships among Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya, and Viruses
(3) Virus-encoded metabolism and the place of viruses in the Tree of Life
(4) The role of viruses in creating new genes
(5) Viruses as beneficial partners in host defenses
(6) Role of viruses in transferring genes to and from cells
(7) The emergence and spread of viral pandemics
(8) Development of surveillance systems to track pathogen spread in human populations
(9) Development of medical countermeasures (drugs, vaccines) to treat and prevent viral diseases
(10) The outlook of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021
The Research Topic is open to original articles, reviews, new methods and protocols addressing above questions, and perspectives.
https://fro.ntiers.in/BsDs
The COVID-19 pandemic is a grim reminder of the constant threat posed by the unexpected emergence, evolution, and spread of novel viral pathogens in human societies. The pandemic has rekindled public’s interest in exploring virus origins, evolutions, definitions, and classifications. Surprisingly, these questions, while seemingly straightforward, remain hotly debated among virologists and evolutionary biologists.
In this Research Topic, we aim to address these fundamental and long-standing biological questions. We aim to build on Volume of I of the Special Issue to develop a unique resource that will host latest data- driven and theoretical research on the following evolutionary virology questions that are relevant from both basic and public health perspectives:
(1) The origin, evolution, classification, and definitions of viruses
(2) The evolutionary relationships among Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya, and Viruses
(3) Virus-encoded metabolism and the place of viruses in the Tree of Life
(4) The role of viruses in creating new genes
(5) Viruses as beneficial partners in host defenses
(6) Role of viruses in transferring genes to and from cells
(7) The emergence and spread of viral pandemics
(8) Development of surveillance systems to track pathogen spread in human populations
(9) Development of medical countermeasures (drugs, vaccines) to treat and prevent viral diseases
(10) The outlook of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021
The Research Topic is open to original articles, reviews, new methods and protocols addressing above questions, and perspectives.
https://fro.ntiers.in/BsDs
Keywords: Origin of Viruses, Genetic Innovations, Tree of Life, Horizontal Gene Transfer
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
