HBV used to track migration of ancient humans

Researchers have been able to use HBV genome sequencing to track the movement of ancient human populations into Australia. The discovery was happenstance to research being done to characterize HBV strains in indigenous Australian populations. Chronic HBV, one of the major causes of hepatocellular carcinoma, is endemic in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Researchers have used the human genome to trace ancient human migration, but this case is of particular interest because it is not the direct human genome that is being traced, but one of the pathogens that has hitched a ride with these groups of people and evolved with them over time. The study was published in the Journal of Molecular Biology and Evolution and reportedly used gene sequencing of HBV DNA, archaeological fossils, and human genomes to develop the study. What the researches found was that the mother strain to the modern HBV/C4 virus entered Australia thousands of years ago, and separated into two groups which are geographically distributed in a strikingly similar manner to the two main Aboriginal Australian groups today. While this is all very fun for virus hunters, the biggest benefit it seems to have brought to the Aboriginal Australian populations is a heightened awareness of HBV in their communities. Professor Josh Davis from the University of Melbourne says that throughout the duration of their study, "community members have asked to find out more about hepatitis B and how they can be tested and treated". The modern day treatments for HBV are mediocre, but with a heightened awareness, hopefully people will begin vaccinating their children to prevent the spread of HBV to younger generations.

Renata Starbird
https://phys.org/news/2019-03-hepatitis-virus-ancient-human-population.html