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The History of Corona Virus: From Neanderthals to the Present Time: A Brief Review

Dariush D Farhud1,2,3, Mahsa Azari4, Atefeh Mehrabi3,5

  • 1School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Iranian Journal of Public Health
|July 22, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Coronavirus infections in humans date back to Neanderthal times, not 2019. Genetic evolution, alongside age and health, influences protection against this ancient virus, which has co-evolved with humanity.

Area of Science:

  • Paleovirology
  • Human Evolutionary Biology
  • Infectious Disease History

Background:

  • Coronaviruses are ancient viruses with a long history of human interaction.
  • The first documented human coronavirus infection predates modern times, challenging popular belief.
  • Understanding historical pathogen-host interactions is crucial for modern public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the evolutionary history of coronaviruses and their interaction with humans.
  • To identify the earliest known human hosts infected by coronaviruses.
  • To explore the role of genetic evolution in human-coronavirus interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical and scientific articles on coronaviruses.
  • Analysis of anthropological and genetic data to infer early host-pathogen relationships.
  • Comparative study of viral and human evolutionary timelines.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests Neanderthals were the first hominids infected by coronaviruses.
  • Human genetic evolution plays a significant role in protection against coronavirus infection.
  • Coronaviruses have co-evolved with humans throughout history.

Conclusions:

  • The history of coronavirus in humans extends far beyond recent outbreaks, originating in ancient times.
  • Host genetic factors are critical in determining outcomes of coronavirus infections.
  • Studying ancient diseases provides essential insights into the complexity of pathogens and human health.

Keywords:
Ancient virusesCOVID-19Neanderthal

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