Data from: Ancient recombination events between human herpes simplex viruses

Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are seen as close relatives but also unambiguously considered as evolutionary independent units. Here, we sequenced the genomes of 18 HSV-2 isolates characterized by divergent UL30 gene sequences to further elucidate the evolutionary history of this virus. Surprisingly, genome-wide recombination analyses showed that all HSV-2 genomes sequenced to date contain HSV-1 fragments. Using phylogenomic analyses, we could also show that two main HSV-2 lineages exist. One lineage is mostly restricted to subSaharan Africa whereas the other has reached a global distribution. Interestingly, only the worldwide lineage is characterized by ancient recombination events with HSV-1. Our findings highlight the complexity of HSV-2 evolution, a virus of putative zoonotic origin which later recombined with its human-adapted relative. They also suggest that coinfections with HSV-1 and 2 may have genomic and potentially functional consequences and should therefore be monitored more closely.

单纯疱疹病毒1型和2型（Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2，HSV-1与HSV-2）被视为近缘类群，同时亦被明确界定为进化独立的单元。本研究对18株以UL30基因（UL30 gene）序列分化为特征的HSV-2分离株开展基因组测序，以期进一步阐明该病毒的进化历程。令人意外的是，全基因组重组分析结果显示，截至目前已完成测序的所有HSV-2基因组均携带有HSV-1片段。通过系统基因组学（phylogenomics）分析，本研究还证实存在两个主要的HSV-2进化谱系：其一主要局限于撒哈拉以南非洲地区，另一支则已在全球范围内广泛传播。值得注意的是，仅这一全球传播的谱系曾发生过与HSV-1的古老重组事件。本研究结果凸显了HSV-2进化的复杂性：该病毒推测具有动物源性起源，后续又与其适应人类的近缘病毒发生了重组。同时本研究也提示，HSV-1与HSV-2的合并感染可能会产生基因组层面乃至潜在的功能层面影响，因此应加强对此类合并感染的监测。