Impact of Historic Migrations and Evolutionary Processes on Human Immunity.

ABSTRACT: The evolution of mankind has constantly been influenced by the pathogens encountered. The various populations of modern humans that ventured out of Africa adapted to different environments and faced a large variety of infectious agents, resulting in local adaptations of the immune system for these populations. The functional variation of immune genes as a result of evolution is relevant in the responses against infection, as well as in the emergence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases observed in modern populations. Understanding how host-pathogen interactions have influenced the human immune system from an evolutionary perspective might contribute to unveiling the causes behind different immune-mediated disorders and promote the development of new strategies to detect and control such diseases.

SUBMITTER: Dominguez-Andres J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7106516 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature