Can RNA Viruses Have Multiple Hosts
Many RNA viruses can have multiple hosts, but for most a common host is evident. Multiple hosts for an RNA virus are not as common as one might guess by reading the local paper and watching the world news. There are a number of details excluded from the headlines that show viruses like West Nile Virus do not cross species barriers with regularity. Rather, it is the nature of these viruses that proves they are evolutionary species with host specificity (1,6). Information to support this idea lies in the ecological, evolutionary and molecular genetics analysis of the virus. To better understand the evolutionary and molecular arguments an ecological perspective will help. West Nile Virus is a good example of an RNA virus associated with several hosts because of the research that has been done to track this virus. WNV is an Arbovirus (Arthropod born) that is carried in mosquitoes. It is a ss(+)RNA virus consisting of 11kb and a nucleocapsid. In the USA the Culex mosquito is the most common carrier of this virus (1,2). Female mosquitoes are the blood feeders in their species, as it is needed for their progeny. The most investigated infectious cycle starts with a Culex feeding on the blood of an infected bird. The female
Some topics in this essay:
Crows Jays, WNV United, Nile Virus, USA Culex, , Arbovirus Arthropod, rna viruses, host cell, host specificity, cross species barriers, virus cross species, species barriers, vertebrate hosts, cross species, avian hosts, multiple hosts, virus cross, West Nile, vs species argument, vertebrates closely related, vs species, west nile virus,
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Approximate Word count = 1982
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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