JC Virus Genotypes in the Western Pacific Suggest Asian Mainland Relationships and Virus Association with Early Population Movements
2002
Distinct genotypes of human polyomavirus JC (JCV) have
remained population associated possibly from the time of dispersal
of modern humans from Africa. Seven major genotypes with additional
subtypes serve as plausible markers for following early and more
recent human migrations in all parts of the world. Phylogenetic trees
of JCV sequences from the major continental population groups show a
trifurcation at the base indicating early division into European, African,
and Asian branches. Here, we have explored JCV relationships in the island
populations of the western Pacific. Since these islands were settled from
the Asian mainland and islands of Southeast Asia, we expected that their
virus genotypes might show an Asian connection. We found that Type 2E
(Austronesian) and Type 8 (non-Austronesian) are widely distributed in
western Pacific populations. A few south China strains were found (Type
7A). A subtype of Type 8, Type 8A, was confined to Papua New Guinea. In
keeping with these assignments we find that phylogenetic analysis
by neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods places Type 2E in a
closer relationship to east Asian mainland strains such as Type 2A and
Type 7. Our findings support the Asian origins of the western Pacific JCV
strains, and suggest three broad movements: an ancient one characterized
by Type 8A, and then Type 8B, followed much later by migrations carrying
Type 2E, which may correlate with the arrival of Austronesian-language
speakers, the bearers of the "Lapita" cultural complex (~3,500
to 5,000 years ago), and relatively recent movements carrying largely
Type 7A (south China) strains directly from the West.
[End Page 473]
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