HERV-K106 Was Infectious after the Emergence of Anatomically Modern Humans
Author Information
Author(s): Aashish R. Jha, Douglas F. Nixon, Michael G. Rosenberg, Jeffrey N. Martin, Steven G. Deeks, Richard R. Hudson, Keith E. Garrison, Satish K. Pillai
Primary Institution: University of California San Francisco
Hypothesis
How recently were HERVs exogenous and infectious in human evolutionary history?
Conclusion
HERV-K106 integrated into the human germ line approximately 150,000 years ago, after the emergence of anatomically modern humans.
Supporting Evidence
- HERV-K106 had the most intact viral sequence structure among recent insertions.
- Coalescent analysis suggests HERV-K106 integrated into the human germ line approximately 150,000 years ago.
- Inter-LTR comparison indicated no differences between the 5′ and 3′ LTR sequences of HERV-K106.
Takeaway
Scientists found that a specific virus, HERV-K106, became part of human DNA about 150,000 years ago, which is after modern humans appeared.
Methodology
The study analyzed sequence variation in the long terminal repeat (LTR) regions of full-length HERV-K loci using inter-LTR comparison and coalescent analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the reliance on specific ethnic groups in the sample.
Limitations
The age estimates rely on established mutation rates, which may not account for local variations in mutation or recombination rates.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 51 individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including perinatally HIV-1 infected children and healthy blood donors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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