What SARS-CoV-2 Variants Have Taught Us

<p>RNA viruses have a rapid pace of evolutionary change. Mutations in RNA viral genomes occur at a pace that greatly exceeds that observed in other organisms and determine much of their evolutionary behavior. For instance RNA viruses have a great ability to cross species barriers and hence emerging new human and animal viruses. Indeed emerging RNA viruses are currently the biggest health threat to humankind to emerge in a very long time. Thus it is crucial at this time to shed some light on how the evolutionary behavior of RNA viruses shapes their epidemiolocal fitness and pathological features. This will contribute toward a better understanding of how to deal with these threats.</p>