Ancient DNA Investigation of a Medieval German Cemetery Confirms Long-Term Stability of CCR5-Δ32 Allele Frequencies in Central Europe
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8960470 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Abigail Bouwman (University of Zurich, corresponding author), Abigail Bouwman Abigail Bouwman, Natallia Shved (University of Zurich), Natallia Shved Natallia Shved, Gülfirde Akgül (University of Zurich), Gülfirde Akgül Gülfirde Akgül, F J Rühli (0000-0001-7937-001X, University of Zurich), Frank Rühli Frank Rühli, Christina Warinner (0000-0002-4528-5877, University of Zurich), Christina Warinner Christina Warinner |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 119-119 |
| Publication date | 2017-01-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Human Biology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0018-7143 • E-ISSN: 1534-6617 |
| Publisher | Project MUSE (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.13110/humanbiology.89.2.02 |
| PMID | 29299966 |
| OpenAlex | W2734372877 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 3 |
The CCR5-Δ32 mutation present in European populations is among the most prominently debated cases of recent positive selection in humans. This allele, a 32-bp deletion that renders the T-cell CCR5 receptor nonfunctional, has important epidemiological and public health significance, as homozygous carriers are resistant to several HIV strains. However, although the function of this allele in preventing HIV infection is now well described, its human evolutionary origin is poorly understood. Initial attempts to determine the emergence of the CCR5-Δ32 allele pointed to selection during the 14th-century Black Death pandemic; however, subsequent analyses suggest that the allele rose in frequency more than 5,000 years ago, possibly through drift. Recently, three studies have identified populations predating the 14th century CE that are positive for the CCR5-Δ32 allele, supporting the claim for a more ancient origin. However, these studies also suggest poorly understood regional differences in the recent evolutionary history of the CCR5-Δ32 allele. Here a new hydrolysis-probe-based real-time PCR assay was designed to ascertain CCR5 allele frequency in 53 individuals from a 10th- to 12th-century CE church and convent complex in central Germany that predates outbreaks of the Black Death pandemic. High-confidence genotypes were obtained for 32 individuals, and results show that CCR5-Δ32 allele frequency has remained unchanged in this region of Central Europe over the last millennium, suggesting that there has been no strong positive selective pressure over this time period and confirming a more ancient origin for the allele
Allele · Allele frequency · Ancient DNA · Biology · Gene · Genotype · Population · Demography · Genetics · HIV Research and Treatment · Immune Cell Function and Interaction · T-cell and B-cell Immunology
| Citations per year | 0.2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2021 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |