Ten millennia of hepatitis B virus evolution
Authors: Kocher Arthur , Papac Luka , Barquera Rodrigo , Key Felix M. , Spyrou Maria A. , Hübler Ron , Rohrlach Adam B. , Aron Franziska , Stahl Raphaela , Wissgott Antje , van Bömmel Florian , Pfefferkorn Maria , Mittnik Alissa , Villalba-Mouco Vanessa , Neumann Gunnar U. , Rivollat Maïté , van de Loosdrecht Marieke S. , Majander Kerttu , Tukhbatova Rezeda I. , Musralina Lyazzat , Ghalichi Ayshin , Penske Sandra , Sabin Susanna , Michel Megan , Gretzinger Joscha , Nelson Elizabeth A. , Ferraz Tiago , Nägele Kathrin , Parker Cody , Keller Marcel , Guevara Evelyn K. , Feldman Michal , Eisenmann Stefanie , Skourtanioti Eirini , Giffin Karen , Gnecchi-Ruscone Guido Alberto , Friederich Susanne , Schimmenti Vittoria , Khartanovich Valery , Karapetian Marina K. , Chaplygin Mikhail S. , Kufterin Vladimir V. , Khokhlov Aleksandr A. , Chizhevsky Andrey A. , Stashenkov Dmitry A. , Kochkina Anna F. , Tejedor-Rodríguez Cristina , de Lagrán Íñigo García-Martínez , Arcusa-Magallón Héctor , Garrido-Pena Rafael , Royo-Guillén José Ignacio , Nováček Jan , Rottier Stéphane , Kacki Sacha , Saintot Sylvie , Kaverzneva Elena , Belinskiy Andrej B. , Velemínský Petr , Limburský Petr , Kostka Michal , Loe Louise , Popescu Elizabeth , Clarke Rachel , Lyons Alice , Mortimer Richard , Sajantila Antti , de Armas Yadira Chinique , Hernandez Godoy Silvia Teresita , Hernández-Zaragoza Diana I. , Pearson Jessica , Binder Didier , Lefranc Philippe , Kantorovich Anatoly R. , Maslov Vladimir E. , Lai Luca , Zoledziewska Magdalena , Beckett Jessica F. , Langová Michaela , Danielisová Alžběta , Ingman Tara , Atiénzar Gabriel García , de Miguel Ibáñez Maria Paz , Romero Alejandro , Sperduti Alessandra , Beckett Sophie , Salter Susannah J. , Zilivinskaya Emma D. , Vasil’ev Dmitry V. , von Heyking Kristin , Burger Richard L. , Salazar Lucy C. , Amkreutz Luc , Navruzbekov Masnav , Rosenstock Eva , Alonso-Fernández Carmen , Slavchev Vladimir , Kalmykov Alexey A. , Atabiev Biaslan Ch. , Batieva Elena , Calmet Micaela Alvarez , Llamas Bastien , Schultz Michael , Krauß Raiko , Jiménez-Echevarría Javier , Francken Michael , Shnaider Svetlana , de Knijff Peter , Altena Eveline , Van de Vijver Katrien , Fehren-Schmitz Lars , Tung Tiffiny A. , Lösch Sandra , Dobrovolskaya Maria , Makarov Nikolaj , Read Chris , Van Twest Melanie , Sagona Claudia , Ramsl Peter C. , Akar Murat , Yener K. Aslihan , Ballestero Eduardo Carmona , Cucca Francesco , Mazzarello Vittorio , Utrilla Pilar , Rademaker Kurt , Fernández-Domínguez Eva , Baird Douglas , Semal Patrick , Márquez-Morfín Lourdes , Roksandic Mirjana , Steiner Hubert , Salazar-García Domingo Carlos , Shishlina Natalia , Erdal Yilmaz Selim , Hallgren Fredrik , Boyadzhiev Yavor , Boyadzhiev Kamen , Küßner Mario , Sayer Duncan , Onkamo Päivi , Skeates Robin , Rojo-Guerra Manuel , Buzhilova Alexandra , Khussainova Elmira , Djansugurova Leyla B. , Beisenov Arman Z. , Samashev Zainolla , Massy Ken , Mannino Marcello , Moiseyev Vyacheslav , Mannermaa Kristiina , Balanovsky Oleg , Deguilloux Marie-France , Reinhold Sabine , Hansen Svend , Kitov Egor P. , Dobeš Miroslav , Ernée Michal , Meller Harald , Alt Kurt W. , Prüfer Kay , Warinner Christina , Schiffels Stephan , Stockhammer Philipp W. , Bos Kirsten , Posth Cosimo , Herbig Alexander , Haak Wolfgang , Krause Johannes , Kühnert Denise 
Published: October 2021

Ancient DNA traces the history of hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections represent a worldwide human health concern. To study the history of this pathogen, Kocher
et al
. identified 137 human remains with detectable levels of virus dating between 400 and 10,000 years ago. Sequencing and analyses of these ancient viruses suggested a common ancestor between 12,000 and 20,000 years ago. There is no evidence indicating that HBV was present in the earliest humans as they spread out of Africa; however, HBV was likely present in human populations before farming. Furthermore, the virus was present in the Americas by about 9000 years ago, representing a lineage sister to the viral strains found in Eurasia that diverged about 20,000 years ago. —LMZ