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Martiniano R, Haber M, Almarri MA, Mattiangeli V, Kuijpers MCM, Chamel B, Breslin EM, Littleton J, Almahari S, Aloraifi F, Bradley DG, Lombard P, Durbin R. Ancient genomes illuminate Eastern Arabian population history and adaptation against malaria. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100507. [PMID: 38417441 PMCID: PMC10943591 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The harsh climate of Arabia has posed challenges in generating ancient DNA from the region, hindering the direct examination of ancient genomes for understanding the demographic processes that shaped Arabian populations. In this study, we report whole-genome sequence data obtained from four Tylos-period individuals from Bahrain. Their genetic ancestry can be modeled as a mixture of sources from ancient Anatolia, Levant, and Iran/Caucasus, with variation between individuals suggesting population heterogeneity in Bahrain before the onset of Islam. We identify the G6PD Mediterranean mutation associated with malaria resistance in three out of four ancient Bahraini samples and estimate that it rose in frequency in Eastern Arabia from 5 to 6 kya onward, around the time agriculture appeared in the region. Our study characterizes the genetic composition of ancient Arabians, shedding light on the population history of Bahrain and demonstrating the feasibility of studies of ancient DNA in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Martiniano
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, L3 3AF Liverpool, UK.
| | - Marc Haber
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed A Almarri
- Department of Forensic Science and Criminology, Dubai Police GHQ, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Mirte C M Kuijpers
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Berenice Chamel
- Institut Français du Proche-Orient (MEAE/CNRS), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Emily M Breslin
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Judith Littleton
- School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Salman Almahari
- Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Fatima Aloraifi
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Whiston Hospital, Warrington Road, Prescot, L35 5DR Liverpool, UK
| | - Daniel G Bradley
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Pierre Lombard
- Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain; Archéorient UMR 5133, CNRS, Université Lyon 2, Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée - Jean Pouilloux, Lyon, France
| | - Richard Durbin
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EH Cambridge, UK.
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Marzouka NAD, Alnaqbi H, Al-Aamri A, Tay G, Alsafar H. Investigating the genetic makeup of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in the United Arab Emirates population through next-generation sequencing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3392. [PMID: 38337023 PMCID: PMC10858242 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53986-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules are central to immune response and have associations with the phenotypes of various diseases and induced drug toxicity. Further, the role of HLA molecules in presenting antigens significantly affects the transplantation outcome. The objective of this study was to examine the extent of the diversity of HLA alleles in the population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using Next-Generation Sequencing methodologies and encompassing a larger cohort of individuals. A cohort of 570 unrelated healthy citizens of the UAE volunteered to provide samples for Whole Genome Sequencing and Whole Exome Sequencing. The definition of the HLA alleles was achieved through the application of the bioinformatics tools, HLA-LA and xHLA. Subsequently, the findings from this study were compared with other local and international datasets. A broad range of HLA alleles in the UAE population, of which some were previously unreported, was identified. A comparison with other populations confirmed the current population's unique intertwined genetic heritage while highlighting similarities with populations from the Middle East region. Some disease-associated HLA alleles were detected at a frequency of > 5%, such as HLA-B*51:01, HLA-DRB1*03:01, HLA-DRB1*15:01, and HLA-DQB1*02:01. The increase in allele homozygosity, especially for HLA class I genes, was identified in samples with a higher level of genome-wide homozygosity. This highlights a possible effect of consanguinity on the HLA homozygosity. The HLA allele distribution in the UAE population showcases a unique profile, underscoring the need for tailored databases for traditional activities such as unrelated transplant matching and for newer initiatives in precision medicine based on specific populations. This research is part of a concerted effort to improve the knowledge base, particularly in the fields of transplant medicine and investigating disease associations as well as in understanding human migration patterns within the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Al Dain Marzouka
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Halima Alnaqbi
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amira Al-Aamri
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Guan Tay
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Habiba Alsafar
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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