All the influenza viruses shown in the phylogenetic tree are…

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Host species: Bird Pig Horse Human 1918 Bird flu Horse flu 1850 1875 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 Year FIGURE 15.17 A Time-Calibrated Phylogeny
Based on Genes Sequenced from Influenza Isolates Viruses rep- resented by blue lineages were isolated from birds; green lineages from pigs;
orange lineages from horses; and red lineages from humans. The triangles represent many closely related sequences sampled from th… Show more

1. All the influenza viruses shown in the phylogenetic tree are thought to have arisen in one group of host animals. Which group of animals do you think is the original source of the virus, and why? (1pt)

2. How many cross-species transmissions are shown on the tree? What hosts were involved (as source and recipient) of each transmission event? (2pt)
3. What do you think is a likely explanation for the severity of the 1918-1919 influenzas pandemic in humans? (1pt)

4. Influenza was known in humans well before the 1918-1919 pandemic. Why do you think that no human influenza viruses are indicated on the tree before about 1918? (1pt)

5. Based on your answer above, what interdisciplinary tools and procedures would you develop to monitor flu viruses in future years, with the goal of identifying potentially dangerous emerging strains of flu viruses? How would you communicate your findings to the public in a way that would improve the effectiveness of an appropriate vaccination campaign? (1pt)

6. From this article, connecting the current coronavirus pandemic, what indication do you get? (1pt)

7. If you are a scientist, what scientific project do you plan to implement next? (1pt)