viral reassortment

Viral reassortment occurs when two different viruses infect the same host cell simultaneously. Inside the cell, their genetic materials can mix and produce new virus particles with combinations of genes from both parent viruses. This process creates a new virus strain that may have different properties, such as increased transmissibility or resistance. Reassortment is especially common in viruses with segmented genomes, like influenza, and can lead to sudden, significant changes in how the virus behaves, sometimes resulting in new outbreaks or pandemics.