Ancient DNA Investigation of a Medieval German Cemetery Confirms Long-Term Stability of CCR5-∆32 Allele Frequencies in Central Europe

Authors

Abigail Bouwman, University of ZurichFollow
Natallia Shved, University of ZurichFollow
Gulfirde Akgul, University of ZurichFollow
Frank Ruhli, University of ZurichFollow
Christina Warinner, University of OklahomaFollow

Document Type

Open Access Preprint

Anticipated Volume

89

Anticipated Issue

2

Abstract

The CCR5-∆32 mutation present in European populations is among the most prominently debated cases of recent positive selection in humans. This allele, a 32-bp deletion (∆32) that renders the T-cell CCR5 receptor non-functional, 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-∆32 allele pointed to selection during the 14^th century Black Death pandemic; however, subsequent analyses suggest that the allele arose more than five thousand years ago, possibly through drift. Recently, three studies have identified populations pre-dating the 14^th century CE that are positive for the CCR5-∆32 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-∆32 allele. Here a new hydrolysis probe-based Real-Time PCR assay was designed to ascertain CCR5 allele frequency in 53 individuals from a 10^th-12^th 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 the results of the study show that CCR5-∆32 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.

Recommended Citation

Bouwman, Abigail; Shved, Natallia; Akgul, Gulfirde; Ruhli, Frank; and Warinner, Christina, "Ancient DNA Investigation of a Medieval German Cemetery Confirms Long-Term Stability of CCR5-∆32 Allele Frequencies in Central Europe" (2016). Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints. 118.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol_preprints/118