Allele protecting against HIV (CCR5-∆32) identified in early medieval specimens from Central Poland. Preliminary results

The CCR5-∆32 HIV-1 resistance allele was initially thought to have originated in Europe around 700 years ago. Its present-day frequency was formerly explained as resulting from selective pressure imposed by the Black Death epidemics. Our findings are among the results which confirm the presence of CCR5-∆32 in populations older than late medieval (from Dziekanowice, Central Poland), which predate the plague of 14th century. Not only the presence, but also the estimated frequency of CCR5-∆32 allele in analyzed specimens indicates that the mutation event must be older than 700 years as was postulated by some authors.