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Specific human polymorphisms, most commonly found in Central Africa, can predict the success of drug treatment against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a significant and globally-distributed human pathogen. However, this association is only found for a subset of HCV genotypes. Despite receiving considerable attention in the medical and virological literature, no evolutionary explanation for this curious pattern has been put forward. Here we suggest that the 'drug treatment resistance' phenotype exhibited today by some HCV genotypes evolved hundreds to thousands of years ago in response to human genetic variation local to Central Africa: an adaptation that has since accrued a new function in the era of anti-viral drug treatment. This could represent one of the oldest known examples of viral exaptation at the population level.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.meegid.2013.09.029

Type

Journal article

Journal

Infect Genet Evol

Publication Date

12/2013

Volume

20

Pages

418 - 421

Keywords

Co-evolution, Hepatitis C virus, IFNL3, Phylogeny, SNPs, Antiviral Agents, Drug Resistance, Viral, Evolution, Molecular, Genetic Variation, Genotype, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Chronic, Humans, Interferons, Interleukins, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Ribavirin