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A complex evolutionary relationship between HHV-6A and HHV-6B.

Diego Forni¹, Rachele Cagliani¹, Mario Clerici^2,3

¹Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.

Virus Evolution

|October 26, 2019

Summary

Human betaherpesviruses 6A and 6B (HHV-6A and HHV-6B) show complex population structures. Findings suggest HHV-6A and HHV-6B distinctions are less clear, impacting epidemiological studies.

Keywords:

HHV-6 Human betaherpesvirus population structure recombination viral evolution

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Published on: August 31, 2014

Area of Science:

Virology
Human Genetics
Population Genetics

Background:

Human betaherpesviruses 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) are widespread in human populations.
HHV-6 genomes can integrate into human chromosomes (iciHHV-6) and be inherited.
Understanding HHV-6 population dynamics is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

To reconstruct the population structure of HHV-6.
To investigate the ancestry and evolutionary relationships between HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and integrated HHV-6 (iciHHV-6).
To clarify the distinction between HHV-6A and HHV-6B genetic diversity.

Main Methods:

Phylogenetic reconstruction to analyze viral genomes.
Analysis of ancestry proportions to trace viral origins.
Recombination detection methods to identify interspecies genetic exchange.

Main Results:

HHV-6A genomes diverged less from the common ancestor than HHV-6B.
HHV-6A and iciHHV-6A exhibit distinct ancestral sources compared to HHV-6B.
A distinct HHV-6B cluster (NY cluster) shows significant HHV-6A-like ancestry, suggesting shared ancestry rather than recent recombination.

Conclusions:

The genetic distinction between HHV-6A and HHV-6B is less defined than previously assumed.
A recent bottleneck and expansion event in an HHV-6A-like population likely gave rise to most sampled HHV-6B genomes.
Epidemiological and clinical studies should consider the complex genetic diversity of HHV-6.