Geography is a well-known factor shaping genetic variation in human populations. However, the potential role played by cultural variables remains much understudied. This study investigates the impact of socio-cultural variables on genomic similarity and the saliva microbiome, using data from populations in Lesotho and Namibia. Geographic distance within Lesotho increases genetic differentiation, while shared clan affiliation surprisingly increases it. In Namibia, ethnicity is the predominant factor influencing genetic affinity. Saliva metagenomic data shows a negative correlation between age and alpha diversity, with notable differences in host-interacting taxa and viral load. These findings highlight the role of geography in shaping genetic affinity even at small scales and the complex influences of cultural factors. The saliva microbiome appears primarily affected by unrecorded individual behaviors rather than geographic or cultural variables. At population-level these oral microbiomes reveal insights into some dietary habits, oral health, and also the communal viral load, which appears to have greater incidence in Lesotho possibly related to the long-term effects of the HIV epidemic in the country.

中文翻译：

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使用基因组学、宏基因组学和个人元数据重建塑造南部非洲人群局部变异的微进化动力学。


地理是影响人类群体遗传变异的一个众所周知的因素。然而，文化变量所发挥的潜在作用仍然没有得到充分研究。本研究使用来自莱索托和纳米比亚人群的数据，调查了社会文化变量对基因组相似性和唾液微生物组的影响。莱索托内部的地理距离增加了遗传分化，而共享的氏族隶属关系则令人惊讶地增加了遗传分化。在纳米比亚，种族是影响遗传亲和力的主要因素。唾液宏基因组数据显示年龄和 α 多样性呈负相关，宿主相互作用类群和病毒载量存在显著差异。这些发现强调了地理学在塑造遗传亲和力方面的作用，即使在小尺度上，以及文化因素的复杂影响。唾液微生物组似乎主要受未记录的个人行为的影响，而不是地理或文化变量。在人群水平上，这些口腔微生物组揭示了对一些饮食习惯、口腔健康以及公共病毒载量的见解，这在莱索托的发病率似乎更高，可能与该国 HIV 流行的长期影响有关。