Defective Subviral Particles Modify Ecological Equilibria and Enhance Viral Coexistence

Cooperation is a main driver of biological complexity at all levels. In the viral world, gene sharing among genomes, complementation between genomes or interactions within quasispecies are frequently observed. this contribution, we explore effects flexible associations fully fledged viruses and subviral entities, such as virus satellites, in dynamics and, particular, stable coexistence. We devise mathematical model to compare different situations competition two quantify how association with satellite qualitatively modifies dynamical equilibria. The relevant parameter invasion fitness each virus-satellite tandem, which depends on transmission rate their effect host survival. virus-virus competition, one becomes eventually extinct, recasting competitive exclusion law ecology. However, an might change outcome ways, either favor less (regardless whether it helper not) allow for coexistence satellite. differs from other mechanisms proposed ecology date enhance species hypothesize that constitutes parsimonious evolutionary pathway towards more cooperative associations, bipartite forms, collaborative unique viruses.