Why humans are more sensitive than chimps to certain viruses

WASHINGTON - Scientists have found why humans are more sensitive to certain viruses compared to other primates.

The greater susceptibility of humans to certain infectious diseases when compared to other primates could be explained by species-specific changes in immune signaling pathways, according to the University of Chicago study.

The first genome-wide, functional comparison of genes regulated by the innate immune system in three primate species discovers potential mediators of differences in disease susceptibility among primates.

Humans are more sensitive than chimpanzees to the severe effects of certain viral infections, such as progression of HIV to AIDS or severe complications from hepatitis B.

Genomic comparisons of humans and their close primate relatives reveal many changes in immune system genes. By stimulating immune cells from humans, chimpanzees and rhesus macaques, Luis Barreiro and colleagues tested functional differences in primate immune pathways.

The “core” response, critical to fight any invading pathogen, was found to be evolutionarily conserved, with similar gene expression patterns across all three species.

However, the regulatory response associated with genes involved in fighting certain viral and microbial infections produced unique effects in each species, probably reflecting rapid adaptation cycles between specific hosts and viruses.

Interestingly, many HIV-interacting genes responded uniquely in chimpanzees, animals, which do not routinely develop AIDS after HIV/SIV infection, possibly pointing to mechanisms of chimpanzee resistance to the virus.

In humans, immune responses were particularly enriched for genes known to be involved in cell death (apoptosis) and cancer biology.

The findings have been published in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics, December 16. (ANI)