A recent study published last year in the journal Cell has identified the ancient origins of a genetic mutation that confers resistance to HIV, and how it first appeared in an individual who lived near the Black Sea between 6,700 and 9,000 years ago. Named CCR5 delta 32, the uncommon genetic variant disables a key immune protein used by a large majority of strains of the HIV virus to enter human cells and therefore “locks out” the virus in individuals who carry two copies of the mutation.
HIV is a relatively new disease. It was only identified in the last century, but the genetic mutation that defends against it has existed for thousands of years. The international research team, led by Professor Simon Rasmussen and senior researcher Kirstine Ravn of the University of Copenhagen’s Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), confirmed this through the analysis of over 3,000 genomes of ancient and modern humans. The study used a new AI-based method to detect the mutation in the often degraded DNA of ancient bones.
The researchers analyzed DNA from more than 900 ancient people, ranging from the early Mesolithic era to the Viking era. They found that the CCR5 delta 32 mutation emerged abruptly and rapidly spread in human populations, particularly after humans transitioned from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to more densely settled agricultural societies. That shift in lifestyle likely put humans in contact with new pathogens, imposing evolutionary pressure that favored individuals with the mutation.
“People with this mutation were better at surviving, likely because it dampened the immune system during a time when humans were exposed to new pathogens,” explained Leonardo Cobuccio, a co-author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at CBMR, in a statement. “While it might sound negative that the variation disrupts an immune gene, it was probably beneficial. An overly aggressive immune system can be deadly — think of allergic reactions or severe cases of viral infections like COVID-19, where the immune system often causes the damage that kills patients.”
CCR5, the protein affected by the mutation, helps direct immune cells to areas of inflammation within the body. Disabled by the delta 32 mutation, however, it becomes harder for HIV to infect these cells. This discovery has already been put to use in medicine: scientists have used the protective properties of the mutation to successfully treat a handful of HIV patients.
One of the most fascinating findings of the research is that every modern carrier of this mutation, found in approximately 10 to 16 percent of Europeans, and up to 25 percent of Danes, probably descends from that single individual living around the Black Sea thousands of years ago. Previous hypotheses had suggested that the mutation had spread in response to more recent events such as the Black Death or Viking-era pandemics. The new genetic evidence, however, defies such a supposition and shows that the mutation became widespread between 8,000 and 2,000 years ago, long before such events.
The study redefines our understanding of how humans have learned to live with disease and demonstrates the power of combining ancient DNA and modern technology to uncover hidden pages of human history.
An interesting hypothesis to test would be whether that mutation is present with others that enhance other ways to combat infection.
What does this genetic discovery have to do with “Viking Age “ ?
Thank you for your comment. As indicated in both the title and the content of the article, the research involved analyzing human remains from a broad time span, ranging from prehistoric periods up to the Viking Age. Notably, the remains from the Viking Age played a significant role in the discovery and conclusions about the ancient HIV-resistant gene.
What was the reservoir for the type of HIV found around the black sea 6000 to 9000 years ago
We think now that the current HIV was from Simian /animals
in other words are there any ideas of where this more ancient form of HIV came from?
This HIV resistant gene has been found in .. where exactly in the near Black Sea?
So what it has to do with vaccine of hiv… i mean cure..
nice information and good article thank you
The Delta32 mutation at its origin had nothing to do with HIV; HIV is much more recent. Delta32 had to do with improved immune tolerance or other indications.