The immunogenetic impact of European colonization in the Americas

The introduction of pathogens originating from Eurasia into the Americas during early European contact has been associated with high mortality rates among Indigenous peoples, likely contributing to their historical and precipitous population decline.

Citation:
Collen EJ, Johar AS, Teixeira JC, Llamas B. The immunogenetic impact of European colonization in the Americas. Front Genet. 2022;13

Keywords:
Colonization; host-pathogen coevolution; immunity; immunogenetic adaptation; Indigenous peoples of America; infectious disease; Native Americans

Abstract:
The introduction of pathogens originating from Eurasia into the Americas during early European contact has been associated with high mortality rates among Indigenous peoples, likely contributing to their historical and precipitous population decline.