Host type governs influenza evolutionary strategy across reservoir and spillover hosts
Maria A. Maltepes, Alexey Markin, Stephen D. Shank, Jordan T. Ort, Jared Sabre, Lambodhar Damodaran, Grant Park, Kathryn E. Kistler, Tavis K. Anderson, Louise H. Moncla
This study shows that influenza viruses use different evolutionary strategies in avian versus mammalian hosts, with reassortment dominating in birds and adaptation in mammals.
bioRxiv · Sep 17, 2026 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology