Coevolution of viruses with hosts and vectors and possible paleontology

Abstract

The coevolution of viruses with their hosts and vectors depends on the evolution of the hosts and vectors coupled with factors involved in virus evolution. The long-term perspective involves the origin of life forms, the evolution of host and vector (especially arthropods) kingdoms and families, and changes in biological diversity induced mainly by the last five great extinctions. In the medium term, the diversification of hosts and vectors is important, and in the short term, recent events, especially humans, have had a great impact on virus coevolution. As there are few, if any, examples of conventional fossils of viruses, evidence for their evolution related to host and vector evolution is being found from other sources, especially virus-induced cellular structures and recent developments in molecular biology. Recognizing these other sources is becoming important for paleontologists gaining an understanding of the influence that viruses have had on the development of higher organisms.