Ancient Herpesvirus Genomes Reveal Millennia of Human Infection

Newly published research has provided the first genomic evidence of human herpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) in ancient human remains, revealing a long history of interaction between these viruses and human populations.

The study, released in the journal Science Advances, was led by teams at the University of Vienna and the University of Tartu, with additional collaboration from the University of Cambridge and University College London. Researchers reconstructed ancient viral genomes from archaeological samples that are more than two thousand years old.

To conduct the study, scientists examined almost 4,000 skeletal samples collected from archaeological sites in various parts of Europe. This process resulted in the identification of eleven ancient HHV-6 genomes, providing a broad view of the virus’s historical presence.

The oldest genome identified in the research came from a young girl who lived in Iron Age Italy between 1100 and 600 BCE. Both HHV-6A and HHV-6B were found in medieval remains from England, Belgium, and Estonia, while HHV-6B was also detected in samples from Italy and early historic Russia.

What the numbers show

• Nearly 4,000 archaeological samples were screened
• Eleven ancient HHV-6 genomes were reconstructed
• HHV-6B infects about 90 percent of children by age two
• One percent of people today carry inherited HHV-6 in all cells
• The oldest genome dates to 1100–600 BCE

Several individuals from England were found to have inherited forms of HHV-6B, representing the earliest documented cases of chromosomally integrated human herpesviruses. The Belgian site of Sint-Truiden yielded the highest number of ancient cases, with both HHV-6A and HHV-6B present in the same community.

Modern genetic comparisons indicate that HHV-6A has lost its ability to integrate into human DNA over time, while about one percent of people today still carry inherited, chromosomally integrated copies of HHV-6 in every cell. HHV-6B is known to infect most children by the age of two and is the cause of roseola infantum, a common childhood illness that can lead to febrile seizures.

The research provides time-stamped genomic data that demonstrates the long-term co-evolution of these viruses with human hosts. This evidence adds to the understanding of how viruses and humans have interacted at the genetic level throughout history.

The findings highlight the value of ancient DNA analysis in uncovering the historical dynamics of human-pathogen relationships. By reconstructing ancient viral genomes, scientists can trace how pathogens have evolved alongside human populations over thousands of years.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.