D. M. Weinreich

Beyond the (geometric) mean: stochastic models undermine deterministic predictions of bet hedger evolution

This paper shows that stochastic models can change the evolutionary outcome of bet hedging compared to deterministic predictions, finding sign inversion depending on population size.

Sign inversion in selection on ploidy

This study shows that selection on ploidy can change sign with population size in non-equilibrium asexual populations due to indirect selection effects.

When good mutations go bad: how population size can change the direction of natural selection

The paper shows that mutations can change their selective effect direction depending on population size, challenging classical evolutionary theory.

REGEN-COV protects against viral escape in preclinical and human studies

This study shows that REGEN-COV, a combination of non-competing antibodies, provides broad coverage against SARS-CoV-2 variants and prevents the emergence of new variants in clinical and preclinical settings.

Predicting the Viability of Beta-Lactamase: How Folding and Binding Free Energies Correlate with Beta-Lactamase Fitness

This paper evaluates how well thermodynamic folding and binding free energies predict the fitness of beta-lactamase mutants using experimental data and computational models.

Selection on mutators is not frequency-dependent

This paper shows that selection on mutator mutations in asexual populations is not frequency-dependent, challenging the common intuition about their evolutionary fate.

The influence of higher-order epistasis on biological fitness landscape topography

This study examines how higher-order epistasis affects the topography of biological fitness landscapes and finds that its effects generally decline with order.

Sign of selection on mutation rate modifiers depends on population size

The paper shows that mutator alleles, which increase mutation rates, are favored by indirect selection in large populations but disfavored in smaller ones, demonstrating sign inversion in their selective effect.

Variability in fitness effects and the limitations of fitness optimization

This paper reviews how variability in fitness effects complicates evolutionary predictions and discusses new phenomena in allele dynamics and applications to infectious disease evolution.