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JC virus evolution and its association with human populations.
Laura A Shackelton1, Andrew Rambaut, Oliver G Pybus
1Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Journal of Virology
|September 29, 2006
Summary
Human polyomavirus JC (JCV) does not appear to codiverge with humans, challenging its use as a marker for human evolution. This virus may evolve much faster than previously estimated.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Human Evolution
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Human polyomavirus JC (JCV) is a persistent, double-stranded DNA virus transmitted parentally.
- JCV subtypes are linked to human populations, leading to its use as a genetic marker for human evolution and migration.
- Codivergence has been assumed for estimating JCV's nucleotide substitution rate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis of host-virus codivergence between JCV and human populations.
- To provide an independent estimate of JCV's evolutionary rate, not relying on codivergence.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic reconciliation analysis comparing human and JCV population trees.
- Estimation of JCV's evolutionary rate independent of codivergence assumptions.
Main Results:
- Phylogenetic comparisons revealed no evidence supporting codivergence between JCV and human populations.
- The estimated nucleotide substitution rate for JCV suggests it may evolve significantly faster than predicted by codivergence models.
- Confidence intervals for the evolutionary rate are wide due to limited sampling.
Conclusions:
- JCV's lack of codivergence indicates it is unsuitable as a marker for human population history.
- The evolutionary rate of JCV may be substantially underestimated when assuming codivergence.
- Further research is needed to clarify JCV's evolutionary dynamics and its relationship with human populations.
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