Former Roman colonies more vulnerable to HIV
Jan 07, 2009
THE spread of the Roman Empire through Europe could explain why those living in its former colonies are more vulnerable to HIV infection. French researchers claim that people once ruled by Rome, England, France, Greece and Spain are less likely to have a
THE spread of the Roman Empire through Europe could explain why those living in its former colonies are more vulnerable to HIV infection. French researchers claim that people once ruled by Rome, England, France, Greece and Spain are less likely to have a gene variant which protects against HIV.
Others argue that the difference is linked to a far larger event, such as the spread of bubonic plague or smallpox.
Researchers at the University of Provence say something carried by the occupying Romans could have had a widespread influence on the genes of modern Europeans.
That the frequency of the variant corresponds closely with the shifting boundaries of the thousand-year empire.
In countries inside the borders of the empire such as Spain, Italy and Greece, the frequency of the CCR5-delta32 gene, which offers some protection against HIV, is between 0% and 6%.
Countries at the fringe of the empire, such as Germany, and modern England have a rate between 8% and 11.8%, while in countries never conquered by Rome; the rate is greater than this.
However, the researchers do not believe that the genetic difference is due to Roman soldiers or officials breeding within the local population.
History suggests this was not particularly widespread, and that invading and occupying armies could have been drawn not just from Italy but from other parts of the empire.
Instead, they say that the Romans may have introduced a disease to which people with the CCR5-Delta32 variant were particularly susceptible.
This tallies with some other theories of why some have the gene variant and some do not.
Others argue that the difference is linked to a far larger event, such as the spread of bubonic plague or smallpox.
Researchers at the University of Provence say something carried by the occupying Romans could have had a widespread influence on the genes of modern Europeans.
That the frequency of the variant corresponds closely with the shifting boundaries of the thousand-year empire.
In countries inside the borders of the empire such as Spain, Italy and Greece, the frequency of the CCR5-delta32 gene, which offers some protection against HIV, is between 0% and 6%.
Countries at the fringe of the empire, such as Germany, and modern England have a rate between 8% and 11.8%, while in countries never conquered by Rome; the rate is greater than this.
However, the researchers do not believe that the genetic difference is due to Roman soldiers or officials breeding within the local population.
History suggests this was not particularly widespread, and that invading and occupying armies could have been drawn not just from Italy but from other parts of the empire.
Instead, they say that the Romans may have introduced a disease to which people with the CCR5-Delta32 variant were particularly susceptible.
This tallies with some other theories of why some have the gene variant and some do not.