About two - thirds of the human population is infected with at least one of the herpes virus simplex viruses . For many , it ’s simply cold sores on the lips . Now , investigator showthat one of our herpes viruses originated in chimpanzees , and it was passed into an extinctHomoprecursor of modern humans 1.6 million days ago .
Herpes viruses have been infect – as well as co - divergent – with their vertebrate Host for hundreds of millions of years . The primate simplex viruses go as far back as the last common root of rascal and apes . We ’re the only primate metal money to be infect with two distinguishable herpes virus simplex viruses : HSV-1 ( mostly blisters ) and HSV-2 ( primary campaign of venereal herpes virus ) . “ We wanted to influence why,”saysJoel Wertheim from the University of California , San Diego .
Our pedigree cleave from apes about 6 million years ago . So Wertheim and his fellow decided to see if the additional human simplex computer virus is the result of ancient viral lineage duplication or some ill-tempered - species contagion . So they compared the factor chronological sequence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 to the family Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree of simplex viruses from eight monkey and ape species . Using multiple models of molecular phylogeny , they estimated ancient viral divergence time – calculate for born pick over the grade of the viral evolution .
They find that HSV-1 has been present in humans far longer than HSV-2 . Furthermore , HSV-1 is the result of ancient co - divergency , taint hominids before our spit from chimps . HSV-2 , on the other hand , arose from a crabbed - species transmittal event from the ancient ascendant of modernistic chimps toHomo erectusaround 1.6 million years ago . Our metal money evolved in Africa about 200,000 years ago .
“ Comparing virus gene sequences gives us insight into viral pathogens that have been infecting us since before we were humans , ” Wertheim says in anews exit .
The results also help us envision out how viruses evolve in various hosts and find their way of life into humans . Wertheim add up : “ beast disease artificial lake are extremely important for planetary public health . read where our viruses come from will help oneself guide us in preventing future virus from making the leap into humans . ”
Theworkwas bring out inMolecular Biology and Evolutionthis week .
[ ViaUCSD ]
figure : Wikimedia
