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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
09:34
An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis
Published on: August 16, 2021
Ancient urbanization predicts genetic resistance to tuberculosis
Ian Barnes1, Anna Duda, Oliver G Pybus
1School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9BE, United Kingdom.
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|September 16, 2010
Summary
Urban living increased infectious disease mortality, driving natural selection for disease resistance. Populations with longer urban settlement show greater adaptation to pathogens like tuberculosis and leprosy.
Area of Science:
- Human evolution
- Paleogenetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Historical and recent data link urban living to increased disease.
- Assessing this link in prehistory requires genetic evidence.
- Urbanization may drive natural selection for disease resistance.
Observation:
- Examined the SLC11A1 1729 + 55del4 allele frequency, linked to resistance against intracellular pathogens.
- Investigated the correlation between allele frequency and the duration of urban settlement.
Findings:
- A significant correlation exists between longer urban settlement and increased resistance to intracellular pathogens.
- This correlation persists even after accounting for shared population history.
Implications:
- Infectious diseases became a major mortality factor following urbanization.
- Population density significantly impacts human health and genetic makeup.
- This study highlights the evolutionary pressures of urbanization on human populations.
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