Mamastrovirus spike protein: Sequence and structural characterization as a basis for understanding cross-species transmission.

Astroviruses (AstVs) are notable for their propensity for cross-species transmission; however, the molecular determinants underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. The spike protein, which is responsible for host cell entry and is a major antigenic determinant, is hypothesized to play a pivotal role. In this study, we observed high sequence variability in the spike region of AstV.

Non-adaptive evolution in codon usage of human-origin monkeypox virus.

Monkeypox virus (Mpox) is a zoonotic infectious disease that threatens human and animal health, with a global outbreak of the low-pathogenic Mpox beginning from 2022. In this study, we analyzed the codon usage of Mpox between two clades, Clade-I and Clade-IIb-B, to understand changes in host adaptation. Clade-IIb-B of the Mpox genome underwent non-adaptive evolution making it less adapted to its host than Clade-I.