title: Is spatial distribution of the HIV-1-resistant CCR5Delta32 allele formed by ecological factors?
abstract: It has been proposed that the Delta32 mutation in the chemokine receptor gene, inducing resistance to HIV-1 and, probably, to other virus infections, has undergone selection in historical times. The frequency of this mutant allele has changed rapidly both in time (during the last two millennia) and in space (across Eurasia). We compiled a global database on Delta32 allele frequencies in 300 populations. Nearly 10 percent of them are our data on 35 East European populations analyzed here for the first time. A detailed map of Delta32 frequency distribution was constructed and statistically analysed. We found a linearly decreasing trend with a maximum in areas surrounding the Baltic and White seas. Significant correlations with ground surface temperature were revealed. However, compared with our previous results, these correlations diminished, indicating that the influence of climate on Delta32 distribution was, if anything at all, indirect. The proposed scenario includes: i) arise and initial spread of the mutation among Uralic-speaking populations; ii) a frequency increase in northeastern Europe as a result of selection and/or genetic drift; iii) secondary spread (with selection continued) due to gene flow and the migrations of northern Europeans across the globe.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia. balanovsky@inbox.ru
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Balanovsky
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pocheshkhova
authors.forename: Andrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pshenichnov
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solovieva
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Voronko
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Churnosov
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tegako
authors.forename: Lubov
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atramentova
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lavryashina
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Evseeva
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borinska
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boldyreva
authors.forename: Nadezhda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dubova
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balanovska
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D003710:Demography; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004777:Environment; D005060:Europe; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005828:Genetics, Population; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019713:Receptors, CCR5