Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42527941›Full record

ArticleGenome biology2026

Ancient genomics study reveals low HLA diversity in eastern hunter-gatherers.

Onur Özer, Nicolas Antonio da Silva, Magdalena Haller-Caskie, Daniel Anton Myburgh, Henny Piezonka, Anastasia Khramtsova, Elena L Kostyleva, Maria V Dobrovol'skaya, Sergei V Vasilyev, Elizaveta Veselovskaya and 3 more

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Article in Genome biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Onur ÖzerInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Nicolas Antonio da SilvaInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Magdalena Haller-CaskieInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Daniel Anton MyburghInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Henny PiezonkaInstitute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, 14195, Germany.
Anastasia KhramtsovaInstitute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, Kiel University, Kiel, 24118, Germany.
Elena L KostylevaIvanovo State University, Ivanovo, 153025, Russia.
Maria V Dobrovol'skayaInstitute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117292, Russia.
Sergei V VasilyevInstitute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Center of Physical Anthropology, Moscow, 119334, Russia.
Elizaveta VeselovskayaInstitute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Center of Physical Anthropology, Moscow, 119334, Russia.
John MeadowsLeibniz-Laboratory for AMS Dating and Stable Isotope Research, Kiel University, Kiel, 24118, Germany.
Almut NebelInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Ben Krause-KyoraInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, 24105, Germany. b.krause-kyora@ikmb.uni-kiel.de.

Funding

Cluster of Excellence Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation 390884018Clusters of Excellence ROOTS 390870439Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) 290391021
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEastern hunter-gatherers (EHG) contributed varying proportions of genetic ancestry to many modern Europeans. However, how this contribution shaped the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene diversity remains unexplored. Sakhtysh in western Russia comprises one of the largest EHG-affiliated burial complexes. The site's continuous use offers a rare opportunity to investigate the genetic history, immune-gene diversity, and pathogen exposure within a hunter-gatherer population.

resultsGenome-wide data from 36 individuals (spanning Lyalovo-Volosovo traditions, 6800-4800 cal BP) place the Sakhtysh population within the EHG cluster, with high genetic affinity to contemporaneous groups across northwestern Russia and the eastern Baltic. This genetic composition remained stable for over two millennia and there is no evidence of admixture with neighboring western hunter-gatherer or farmer groups. We report HLA genotypes for 27 Sakhtysh individuals, representing the first true HLA calls from ancient hunter-gatherers. HLA diversity is low in the Sakhtysh population, likely due to their small population size. Specific alleles like B*27:05 are observed at high frequencies (~ 50%), despite being relatively rare in modern populations, suggesting shifts in selective pressures. Pathogen screening identified a restricted spectrum of causal agents including possible zoonoses with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and chronic infections with hepatitis B virus and parvovirus B19.

conclusionsThe Sakhtysh community shows genetic continuity across cultural transitions. This population exhibits limited HLA diversity and unexpectedly high frequency of certain alleles. These patterns were likely influenced by low pathogen diversity and possible adaptation to specific environmental factors.

Indexed as

Genetic VariationGenomicsHLA AntigensAllelesDNA, AncientEuropean PeopleGenetics, PopulationHumansRussiaDNA, AncientHLA AntigensAncient DNAEastern hunter-gatherersHLA diversityImmunogenetics

Identifiers

PMID42527941
PMCPMC13418142

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