Ancient human parvovirus B19 in Eurasia reveals its long-term association with humans
Abstract
The majority of viral genomic sequences available today are fewer than 50 years old. Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a ubiquitous human pathogen causing fifth disease in children, as well as other conditions. By isolating B19V DNA from human remains between ∼0.5 and 6.9 thousand years old, we show that B19V has been associated with humans for thousands of years, which is significantly longer than previously thought. We also show that the virus has been evolving at a rate an order of magnitude lower than estimated previously. Access to viral sequences isolated from individuals living thousands of years ago greatly improves our understanding of the timescales of virus evolution, spatiotemporal distribution, and their substitution rates, and can uncover genetic diversity that is now extinct.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1804921115
- Bibcode:
- 2018PNAS..115.7557M