Adaptive admixture at ACKR1, the Duffy blood group locus, may have shaped Plasmodium vivax prevalence in Oman
Haffener PE, Al-Riyami AZ, Al-Zadjali S, Busby GBJ, Al-Mahdhuri S, Al-Rawahi M, Al-Hosni S, Al-Marhoobi A, Al-Sheriyani A, Leffler EM.
Abstract
Malaria in humans is largely caused by two divergent species of Plasmodium parasites, P. vivax and P. falciparum, both of which have driven the spread of protective alleles in human populations. Notably, an erythrocyte-specific Duffy null allele (FyES) confers resistance to P. vivax malaria and has been identified as a target of strong, recent positive selection in multiple African admixed populations. Here, we evaluate evidence for selection via adaptive admixture in Oman, where compared to neighboring countries, P. vivax has recently been less common. Genetic ancestry inference using whole genome sequence data from 100 Omanis suggests 15.6% (95% CI: 10.8–20.3%) of their genetic ancestry is shared with African populations. At the Duffy locus, we find a high frequency of FyES and an increase to 76% African ancestry. Comparing with blood group serology for the same individuals, we identify an additional Duffy-null allele Author Manuscript * Correspondence: leffler@genetics.utah.edu, arwa@squ.edu.om.
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