A new paleogenomic study published in Nature Genetics has mapped the DNA of hunter-gatherer populations inhabiting the Pontic-Caspian steppe during the Early Holocene. The research identifies a specific genetic cluster associated with an enhanced immune response to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a viral pathogen that has plagued the region for millennia.
The findings suggest that these ancient foragers underwent intense natural selection as they transitioned into densely forested environments following the retreat of the Last Glacial Maximum. This study provides the first direct evidence of how ancient human genomes adapted to local pathogen pressures long before the advent of agriculture, offering new insights into the co-evolution of humans and viral diseases in Eurasia.