A5067713601- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Digestive system and related health
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Malaria Research and Control
- melanin and skin pigmentation
- Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Culinary Culture and Tourism
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia research
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Race, Genetics, and Society
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- High Altitude and Hypoxia
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
California University of Pennsylvania
2021-2023
University of Pennsylvania
2012-2023
University of Southern California
2022
Botswana Open University
2021
University of Ferrara
2009
University of Maryland, College Park
2006-2009
Africa is the source of all modern humans, but characterization genetic variation and relationships among populations across continent has been enigmatic. We studied 121 African populations, four American 60 non-African for patterns at 1327 nuclear microsatellite insertion/deletion markers. identified 14 ancestral population clusters in that correlate with self-described ethnicity shared cultural and/or linguistic properties. observed high levels mixed ancestry most reflecting historical...
Genomic analysis of high-altitude populations residing in the Andes and Tibet has revealed several candidate loci for involvement adaptation, a subset which have also been shown to be associated with hemoglobin levels, including EPAS1, EGLN1, PPARA, play role HIF-1 pathway. Here, we extended this work high- low-altitude living Ethiopia, measured levels. We genotyped Illumina 1M SNP array employed genome-wide scans selection targeted association levels identify genes that adaptation high...
African genomics and skin color Skin varies among human populations is thought to be under selection, with light maximizing vitamin D production at higher latitudes dark providing UV protection in equatorial zones. To identify the genes that give rise palette of tones, Crawford et al. applied genome-wide analyses across diverse (see Perspective by Tang Barsh). Genetic variants were identified likely function phenotypes. Comparison model organisms verified a conserved MFSD12 pigmentation. A...
In humans, the ability to digest lactose, sugar in milk, declines after weaning because of decreasing levels enzyme lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, encoded by LCT. However, some individuals maintain high amounts and are able lactose into adulthood (i.e., they have lactase-persistence [LP] trait). It is thought that selection has played a major role maintaining this genetically determined phenotypic trait different human populations practice pastoralism. To identify variants associated with LP...
Africa is the origin of modern humans within past 300 thousand years. To infer complex demographic history African populations and adaptation to diverse environments, we sequenced genomes 92 individuals from 44 indigenous populations.
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which reflects in other somatic tissues, is a complex genetic trait. Eleven SNPs have been shown genome-wide association studies to be associated with LTL at level of significance within cohorts European ancestry. It has observed that longer African Americans than Europeans. The underlying reason for this difference unknown. Here we show significantly sub-Saharan Africans both Europeans and Americans. Based on the 11 LTL-associated alleles data phase 3 1000...
Gut microbiota from individuals in rural, non-industrialized societies differ those industrialized societies. Here, we use 16S rRNA sequencing to survey the gut bacteria of seven populations Tanzania and Botswana. These include practicing traditional hunter-gatherer, pastoralist, agropastoralist subsistence lifestyles a comparative urban cohort greater Philadelphia region.We find that bacterial diversity per individual within-population phylogenetic dissimilarity differs between Botswanan...
Although human bitter taste perception is hypothesized to be a dietary adaptation, little known about genetic signatures of selection and patterns variability in ethnically diverse populations with different diets, particularly from Africa. To better understand the basis evolutionary history sensitivity, we sequenced 2,975 bp region encompassing TAS2R38, receptor gene, 611 Africans 57 West Central East Africa subsistence patterns, as well comparative sample 132 non-Africans. We also examined...
Anatomically modern humans arose in Africa ∼300,000 years ago, but the demographic and adaptive histories of African populations are not well-characterized. Here, we have generated a genome-wide dataset from 840 Africans, residing western, eastern, southern, northern Africa, belonging to 50 ethnicities, speaking languages four language families. In addition agriculturalists pastoralists, our study includes 16 that practice, or until recently practiced, hunting-gathering (HG) lifestyle. We...
Bitter taste perception influences human nutrition and health, the genetic variation underlying this trait may play a role in disease susceptibility. To better understand architecture patterns of phenotypic variability bitter perception, we sequenced 996 bp region, encompassing coding exon TAS2R16, receptor gene, 595 individuals from 74 African populations 94 non-Africans 11 populations. We also performed genotype–phenotype association analyses threshold levels sensitivity to salicin,...
Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with molecular phenotypes is a powerful approach for identifying the genes and mechanisms underlying human traits diseases, though most studies have focused on individuals European descent. While important progress has been made to study greater diversity populations, many groups remain unstudied, particularly among indigenous populations within Africa. To better understand genetics gene regulation in East Africans, we perform expression...
Redondoviridae is a newly established family of circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses found in the human ororespiratory tract. Redondoviruses were previously ∼15% respiratory specimens from U.S. urban subjects; levels elevated individuals with periodontitis or critical illness. Here, we report higher redondovirus prevalence saliva samples: four rural African populations showed 61 to 82% prevalence, and an population 32% prevalence. Longitudinal, limiting-dilution...
Human genomic diversity has been shaped by both ancient and ongoing challenges from viruses. The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had a devastating impact on population health. However, genetic evolutionary forces impacting host genes related to SARS-CoV-2 infection are not well understood. We investigated global patterns of variation signatures natural selection at relevant (angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE2],...
Abstract The alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) family of genes encodes enzymes that catalyze the metabolism ethanol into acetaldehyde. Nucleotide variation in ADH can affect catalytic properties these and is associated with a variety traits, including alcoholism cancer. Some variants, ADH1B*48His (rs1229984) mutation ADH1B gene, reduce risk are under positive selection multiple human populations. advent Neolithic agriculture increase fermented foods beverages hypothesized to have been selective...