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Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses
Published on: February 22, 2019
Migrating microbes: what pathogens can tell us about population movements and human evolution
Charlotte J Houldcroft1,2, Jean-Baptiste Ramond3, Riaan F Rifkin3
1a Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Division of Biological Anthropology , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.
Background:
The biology of human migration can be observed from the co-evolutionary relationship with infectious diseases. While many pathogens are brief, unpleasant visitors to human bodies, others have the ability to become life-long human passengers. The story of a pathogen's genetic code may, therefore, provide insight into the history of its human host. The evolution and distribution of disease in Africa is of particular interest, because of the deep history of human evolution in Africa, the presence of a variety of non-human primates, and tropical reservoirs of emerging infectious diseases.
Methods:
This study explores which pathogens leave traces in the archaeological record, and whether there are realistic prospects that these pathogens can be recovered from sub-Saharan African archaeological contexts.
Results:
Three stories are then presented of germs on a journey. The first is the story of HIV's spread on the back of colonialism and the railway networks over the last 150 years. The second involves the spread of Schistosoma mansoni, a parasite which shares its history with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the origins of fresh-water fishing. Finally, we discuss the tantalising hints of hominin migration and interaction found in the genome of human herpes simplex virus 2.
Conclusions:
Evidence from modern African pathogen genomes can provide data on human behaviour and migration in deep time and contribute to the improvement of human quality-of-life and longevity.
Insights
Pathogen genomes reveal human migration history in Africa. Studying diseases like HIV and Schistosoma mansoni offers insights into past human behavior and improves future health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Paleovirology
- Human evolutionary biology
- Infectious disease dynamics
Background:
- Human migration patterns are intricately linked with the co-evolution of infectious diseases.
- Pathogen genetic codes offer insights into the historical movements and interactions of their human hosts.
- Africa's deep evolutionary history, primate diversity, and disease reservoirs make it crucial for studying pathogen evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pathogens that leave traces in the archaeological record.
- To assess the feasibility of recovering ancient pathogens from sub-Saharan African archaeological sites.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of pathogen genomes (e.g., HIV, Schistosoma mansoni, human herpes simplex virus 2).
- Correlation of pathogen spread with historical events like colonialism, slave trade, and infrastructure development.
- Examination of genetic data for evidence of hominin migration and interaction.
Main Results:
- HIV's dissemination is linked to colonialism and railway networks over the past 150 years.
- Schistosoma mansoni's spread is associated with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and freshwater fishing practices.
- Human herpes simplex virus 2 genomes provide clues about ancient hominin migrations and interactions.
Conclusions:
- Modern African pathogen genomes offer valuable data on deep-time human behavior and migration.
- Understanding pathogen evolution aids in improving human quality of life and longevity.
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