Comparative Population Genomics across Three Continents Reveals Immune Adaptation and Implications for Vaccine Development
Abstract
Human populations have evolved distinct immune responses to local pathogens, and investigating signatures of natural selection across populations can reveal both shared and population-specific immune response mechanisms. We compared genomic signatures of natural selection in Senegalese, Thai, and Peruvian populations using two complementary methods, hypothesising that this tri-continental comparison would reveal population-specific adaptive variants in genes regulating immune pathways. Our findings confirm that genetic diversity among these populations is reflected in their immune responses to regionally endemic pathogens. Furthermore, candidate immune-related genomic regions identified through selection scanning provide insights for ancestry-informed vaccine development by directing antigen design for region-specific pathogens, incorporating population-specific adjuvants, and tailoring administration strategies.
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