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- Title
Detection of the CCR5-Delta32 HIV resistance gene in Bronze Age skeletons.
- Authors
Hummel, S; Schmidt, D; Kremeyer, B; Herrmann, B; Oppermann, M
- Abstract
A mutant allele of the chemokine receptor CCR5 gene (CCR5-Delta32), which confers resistance to HIV-1 infection, is believed to have originated from a single mutation event in historic times, and rapidly expanded in Caucasian populations, owing to an unknown selective advantage. Among other candidates, the plague bacillus Yersinia pestis was implicated as a potential source of strong selective pressure on European populations during medieval times. Here, we report amplifications of the CCR5-Delta32 DNA sequence from up to 2900-year-old skeletal remains from different burial sites in central Germany and southern Italy. Furthermore, the allele frequency of CCR5-Delta32 in victims of the 14th century plague pandemic in Lubeck/northern Germany was not different from a historic control group. Our findings indicate that this mutation was prevalent already among prehistoric Europeans. The results also argue against the possibility of plague representing a major selective force that caused rapid increase in CCR5-Delta32 gene frequencies within these populations.
- Publication
Genes and immunity, 2005, Vol 6, Issue 4, p371
- ISSN
1466-4879
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1038/sj.gene.6364172