Viruses adapt to new hosts through repeated cross-species host jumps and secondary mutations.
Is it true that viruses adapt to new hosts through repeated cross-species host jumps and secondary mutations?
Yes. Multiple virological and epidemiological studies support the consensus that viruses adapt to novel hosts through successful cross-species transmission events followed by key secondary genomic mutations that enhance replication and fitness.
Verdict: SUPPORTED · 5 sources for, 0 against · Last checked
The claim posits that viruses adapt to new hosts through repeated cross-species host jumps and secondary mutations. All retrieved papers that directly investigate this mechanism (such as papers 0, 1, 5, 6, and 9 on influenza and other viruses) show that cross-species transmission coupled with specific adaptive genomic mutations drives viral host range expansion and adaptation. There is no evidence in the provided sources refuting this mechanism. Therefore, the verdict is SUPPORTED.
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Mostafa, A., Naguib, M., Nogales, A., Barre, R. S., Stewart, J. P., García-Sastre, A., & Martínez-Sobrido, L. (2024). Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in dairy cattle: origin, evolution, and cross-species transmission. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02542-24
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Staller, E., Carrique, L., Swann, O., Fan, H., Keown, J., Sheppard, C. M., Barclay, W. S., Grimes, J. M., & Fodor, E. (2024). Structures of H5N1 influenza polymerase with ANP32B reveal mechanisms of genome replication and host adaptation. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48470-3
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Hui, X., Tian, X., Ding, S., Gao, G., Cui, J., Zhang, C., Zhao, T., Duan, L., & Wang, H. (2025). A Review of Cross-Species Transmission Mechanisms of Influenza Viruses. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12050447
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Elgendy, E., Arai, Y., Kawashita, N., Isobe, A., Daidoji, T., Ibrahim, M. S., Ono, T., Takagi, T., Nakaya, T., Matsumoto, K., & Watanabe, Y. (2021). Double mutations in the H9N2 avian influenza virus PB2 gene act cooperatively to increase viral host adaptation and replication for human infections.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001612
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Xiong, W. & Zhang, Z. (2024). Influenza Virus Genomic Mutations, Host Barrier and Cross-species Transmission. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.2174/0113892029316603240926051325
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