New Model of Herpes Evolution (IMAGE)

SMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)

New Model of Herpes Evolution

Caption

The authors propose a model of HSV-2 evolution in which, following a putative transmission from chimpanzees to the human lineage, HSV-2 diversified in African populations before a single lineage characterized by recombinant HSV-1 fragments (the worldwide lineage) accompanied the migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa. African HSV-2 belonging to the worldwide lineage may be the result of later contacts to non-African populations. The results also pinpoint that HSV-1/HSV-2 co-infections occurring today may have some public health relevance.

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Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer

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