Ancient herpes simplex 1 genomes reveal recent viral structure in Eurasia

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo4435
• Publication Date: 2022-07-27T17:58:46Z
• Authors: Meriam Guellil; Lucy van Dorp; Sarah A. Inskip; Jenna M. Dittmar; Lehti Saag; Kristiina Tambets; Ruoyun Hui; Alice Rose; Eugenia D’Atanasio; Aivar Kriiska; Liivi Varul; A. M. H. C. Koekk...; Rimma D. Goldina; Craig Cessford; Anu Solnik; Mait Metspalu; Johannes Krause; Alexander Herbig; John E. Robb; Charlotte J. Houl...; Christiana L. Scheib
• Keywords: Lineage (genetic)

Human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), a life-long infection spread by oral contact, infects majority of adults globally. Phylogeographic clustering sampled diversity into European, pan-Eurasian, and African groups has suggested the codiverged with human migrations out Africa, although much younger origin also been proposed. We present three full ancient European HSV-1 genomes one partial genome, dating from 3rd to 17th century CE, sequenced up 9.5× paired 10.16×. Considering dataset modern genomes, we apply phylogenetic methods estimate age Eurasian 4.68 (3.87 5.65) ka. Extrapolation estimated rates global points extant as 5.29 (4.60 6.12) ka, suggesting lineage replacement coinciding late Neolithic period following Bronze Age migrations.