It seemed that the virus could adapt quickly to new host, and that it could change its character rapidly as it entered a new population.
A virus and its usual host may have adapted to each other to coexist.
One risk of such a strategy is that the virus will adapt and infect even unvaccinated chickens without causing symptoms of illness.
But it can also infect people, and scientists are worried that the virus might adapt and spread more easily among humans.
However, some viruses (such as totiviruses) have adapted to the genetic code modification of the host.
But scientists are concerned that the virus might adapt to more easily infect people.
Ridley uses his knowledge to contribute to evolution by portraying how viruses can adapt and mutate.
New diseases often pop up when another organism's viruses or bacteria adapt to human hosts.
This elevated mutation rate, when combined with natural selection, allows viruses to quickly adapt to changes in their host environment.
She'd switched to an equizine-3 solution, which initially improved matters, but the virus had seemingly adapted again.