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SUMMARY:Genetic conflicts: The usual suspects and beyond
LOCATION:Biology Building, Room 136
TZID:America/Denver
DTSTART:20194301T000000
UID:2026-05-04-04-26-51@natsci.colostate.edu
DTSTAMP:20260504T042651
Description:In the past decade\, virologists have revealed a novel arm of i
 ntracellular\, cell-autonomous immunity that mammalian cells mount against
  a variety of viral infections. In collaboration with colleagues Michael E
 merman and Adam Geballe\, we have used an evolutionary approach that ident
 ifies potential antiviral genes based on evolutionary signatures: higher t
 han expected rates of amino acid changes that are fixed by selection (posi
 tive selection). We have used the signature of positive selection to ident
 ify the amino acid residues in antiviral proteins that are responsible for
  specific recognition of viral components. For example\, we recently showe
 d that such an evolution-guided approach could also reveal the interaction
  interface of the broadly acting MxA antiviral protein\, which had eluded 
 investigations that used more traditional virology and biochemical approac
 hes. We can also employ this signature to elicit better versions of antivi
 ral proteins via combinatorial mutagenesis of positively selected residues
 .\n\nWe postulate that viruses much older than those in the present day ha
 ve driven selection for our current antiviral specificities. This has led 
 us to propose an alternate approach of \"indirect paleovirology\,\" i.e.\,
  inferring the presence and action of ancient viruses by virtue of the evo
 lutionary episodes of selection they drive in host antiviral genes. Togeth
 er with the identification of fossilized imprints of ancient viruses in an
 imal genomes\, these reveal an ancient tapestry of viral infections throug
 hout animal evolution. Occasionally\, some genes of these ancient viruses 
 are usurped by genomes for host function. We are interested in identifying
  such cases and understanding the host biology they participate in. Thus\,
  evolution can provide a means to identify potential antiviral genes\, to 
 reveal functional sites of host-virus antagonism and ancient viruses thems
 elves\, and to understanding differences in susceptibility to infectious d
 iseases. Host-virus arms-races exemplify genetic conflicts that can occur 
 in many arenas of biology. 4:00 pm
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