Within-host adaptive evolution is limited by genetic drift in experimental human influenza A virus infections
Lucas M. Ferreri, Nahara Vargas-Maldonado, Valerie Le Sage, Christina Marcelo Leyson, Matthew D. Pauly, David VanInsberghe, Vedhika Raghunathan, Shamika Danzy, Hollie Macenczak, Jessica J. Traenkner, Flu CHIM Study Group, Andrew P. Catchpole, Alex Mann, Nadine Rouphael, Seema S. Lakdawala, , Anice C. Lowen
This study examines within-host evolutionary dynamics of influenza A virus in humans and ferrets, finding that genetic drift limits selection efficiency in humans but not in ferrets.
bioRxiv · Jan 7, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology