Evolutionary fingerprint of travel bans and geographic genetic isolation

Characterize the evolutionary impact (fingerprint) of travel bans and the resulting geographic genetic isolation on pathogen evolution by integrating phylogeographic analyses with multiscale epidemic frameworks, to ascertain how such global interventions shape viral genetic and antigenic dynamics.

Background

In discussing practical implications, the authors highlight that non-pharmaceutical interventions can alter epidemic trajectories and selection pressures. They emphasize that local interventions (e.g., reducing effective reproduction number) may have long-term evolutionary consequences, and extend this concern to global interventions such as travel bans.

They point out that the evolutionary effects of travel restrictions and consequent geographic genetic isolation are not yet resolved and propose that combined phylogeographic and multiscale modeling approaches will be required to address this question.