Study Links 15 of 18 Neandertal Variants to Higher DNA Virus Loads, Especially EBV
Updated
Updated · The Brighter Side of News · May 28
Study Links 15 of 18 Neandertal Variants to Higher DNA Virus Loads, Especially EBV
3 articles · Updated · The Brighter Side of News · May 28
UK Biobank analysis tied 15 of 18 genome-wide significant archaic haplotypes to higher loads of common DNA viruses, with the strongest signals concentrated in Epstein-Barr virus.
Two chromosome 17 Neandertal-linked regions stood out most clearly: both tracked with higher EBV levels and sat near immune-related genes including ARRB2, ALOX15, GSDMB and IKZF3.
The pattern contrasts with earlier work suggesting some Neandertal DNA improved defenses against RNA viruses, indicating archaic immune inheritance may help against some pathogens but hinder control of persistent DNA viruses.
One chromosome 17 haplotype remains common in Europeans at about 22.1% but appears to have fallen from roughly 42.6% over the past 11,200 years, suggesting changing selection pressures as disease environments shifted.
Researchers said the findings are limited by datasets dominated by European ancestry, leaving much Neandertal and most Denisovan immune variation still underexplored.
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