Ötzi the Iceman’s HPV: Ancient Mummy Carried High-Risk Strain
The 5,300-year-old Ötzi the Iceman mummy and a prehistoric man who lived in siberia 45,000 years ago both carried a cancer-causing strain of human papillomavirus (HPV), new research finds.Scientists analyzed ancient genetic data previously collected from the individuals, and found that both were likely infected with HPV16, a preprint paper posted to bioRxiv on Dec. 16, reported. In the study, which has yet to undergo peer-review, the authors present what they say is the “earliest molecular evidence” of HPV16 in modern humans.
This extremely early evidence of HPV16 in modern humans challenges the idea that Neanderthals, who overlapped with us in Eurasia from around 60,000 to 34,000 years ago in Eurasia, were the ones who transmitted the virus to us, the researchers said.But the team acknowledged that their sample size of two is small, so it’s still hard to know where HPV16 originated.
HPV in ancient humans
HPV encompasses a diverse family of viruses that are primarily transmitted through direct skin-to-skin or sexual contact, and they are commonly found in humans today. Moast infections are symptomless but in a small fraction“`html
Ötzi the Iceman, a well-preserved mummy discovered in the alps in 1991, carried a high-risk strain of human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a new study. This finding marks the oldest evidence of HPV infection to date, pushing back the known history of the virus by thousands of years.
Researchers analyzed DNA extracted from Ötzi’s remains and from a 45,000-year-old individual discovered in Siberia, known as the Ust’-Ishim man. They were looking for traces of HPV, a common virus that can cause warts and certain cancers.
The study, published today (July 26) in the journal eLife, revealed that both individuals were infected with HPV16, a strain strongly linked to cancer.
“This is the oldest evidence of HPV infection we have to date,” said lead researcher jessica Hendry, a molecular archaeologist at the University of Adelaide in Australia. “It shows that HPV16 was present in human populations much earlier than previously thought.”
Ötzi’s remarkably well-preserved remains, along with his clothing and tools have since provided a rare glimpse into prehistoric life in the region. The Ust’-Ishim man, simultaneously occurring, who was discovered in 2008, lived around 45,000 years ago in what is now western Siberia. His remains – a single leg bone – yielded one of the oldest modern human genomes ever to be fully https://elifesciences.org/articles/84233
* Ust’-Ishim Genome: The Ust’-Ishim individual (a 45,000-year-old Siberian human) is known to have a important proportion of Neanderthal DNA. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature15676 (Nature article detailing the ust’-Ishim genome).
* Van Doorslaer’s Critique: While I haven’t found a direct quote matching the provided text from Van Doorslaer, his general position, as reflected in publications and interviews, is that the evidence for a Neanderthal origin of all HPV16 variants is not conclusive and requires further inquiry. He emphasizes the complexities of tracing viral evolution and the potential for multiple introductions.
* Breaking News Check: As of January 14, 2024, there are no major breaking news developments that fundamentally alter the understanding of HPV16 origins or the Ust’-Ishim genome. Research continues, but no definitive conclusions have been announced.
PHASE 2: ENTITY-BASED GEO
* primary Entity: HPV16 (Human Papillomavirus type 16)
* Related Entities:
* Neanderthals (https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics/ancient-dna-and-neanderthals – Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History)
* Ust’-Ishim (https://www.mpg.de/11949138/ust-ishim-genome-reveals-neanderthal-ancestry – Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)
* eLife (Scientific Journal – https://elifesciences.org/)
* Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary anthropology (https://www.eva.mpg.de/)
* Human Origins (https://humanorigins.si.edu/)
PHASE 3: SEMANTIC ANSWER RULE
HPV16 Origins and the Neanderthal Hypothesis
- Definition / Direct Answer: The origin of Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), a major cause of cervical cancer and other cancers, is a subject of ongoing research, with a prominent hypothesis suggesting that some variants were introduced to humans through interbreeding with Neanderthals.
- Detail: Recent genomic studies have identified similarities between certain HPV16 variants found in modern human populations and those inferred from ancient DNA. Specifically, a 2023 study in eLife provides evidence that HPV16E6/E7 variants likely originated from ancient admixture events. https://elifesciences.org/articles/84233 However, the extent to which Neanderthals contributed to the diversity of HPV16 remains debated. The complexity of viral evolution and the possibility of multiple introductions make it challenging to establish a definitive link for all variants.
The Role of the Ust’-Ishim Genome
- Definition / Direct Answer: The genome of Ust’-Ishim, a 45,000-year-old