Ancient Viruses Reveal Integrated DNA in Humans

Ancient Viruses Provide Insight into Human Evolution

Researchers have discovered ancient herpes viruses hidden in human DNA, demonstrating that these infections have evolved alongside us since the Iron Age. An international team, led by the University of Vienna and the University of Tartu in Estonia, reconstructed ancient genomes of the HHV-6A and HHV-6B viruses using DNA from human archaeological remains over 2,000 years old. The study revealed that HHV-6 has infected humans for at least 2,500 years, with some individuals inheriting the virus directly in their DNA, passing it down through generations.

The discovery of these ancient genomes highlights a profound evolutionary history between humans and viruses, and comparative analysis with modern genetic data shows that some viral integrations occurred thousands of years ago. This study provides solid evidence of the long-term co-evolution between viruses and human hosts, underscoring how transient childhood infections can become an integral part of the human genome.