Background Eastern hunter-gatherers (EHG) contributed varying proportions of genetic ancestry to many modern Europeans. However, how this contribution shaped the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene diversity remains unexplored. Sakhtysh in western Russia comprises one of the largest EHG-affiliated burial complexes. The site's continuous use offers a rare opportunity to investigate the genetic history, immune-gene diversity, and pathogen exposure within a hunter-gatherer population. Results Genome-wide data from 36 individuals (spanning Lyalovo–Volosovo traditions, 6800–4800 cal BP) place the Sakhtysh population within the EHG cluster, with high genetic affinity to contemporaneous groups across northwestern Russia and the eastern Baltic. This genetic composition remained stable for over two millennia and there is no evidence of admixture with neighboring western hunter-gatherer or farmer groups. We report HLA genotypes for 27 Sakhtysh individuals, representing the first true HLA calls from ancient hunter-gatherers. HLA diversity is low in the Sakhtysh population, likely due to their small population size. Specific alleles like B*27:05 are observed at high frequencies (~ 50%), despite being relatively rare in modern populations, suggesting shifts in selective pressures. Pathogen screening identified a restricted spectrum of causal agents including possible zoonoses with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and chronic infections with hepatitis B virus and parvovirus B19. Conclusions The Sakhtysh community shows genetic continuity across cultural transitions. This population exhibits limited HLA diversity and unexpectedly high frequency of certain alleles. These patterns were likely influenced by low pathogen diversity and possible adaptation to specific environmental factors.

Abstract. Accurate characterization of adaptive immune receptor repertoires through high-throughput sequencing is critical for understanding immune respons

Background Prior research on the genetics of human longevity has identified only a few robust associations. While these studies highlight the importance of metabolic processes for longevity, the contr...

Human populations differ in disease prevalences and in average values of phenotypes, but the extent to which differences are caused by genetic or environmental factors is unknown for most complex trai...

West Anatolia has been a crucial yet elusive element in the Neolithic expansion from the Fertile Crescent to Europe. In this work, we describe the changing genetic and cultural landscapes of early Hol...

On the Anatolian plains, more than ten thousand years ago, one of humanity’s first major farming communities flourished, burying its dead beneath the floors of its homes. Now, two recently published s...

Background The northern European Neolithic is characterized by two major demographic events: immigration of early farmers from Anatolia at 7500 years before present, and their admixture with local wes...