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Primate immune genetic evolution

Immune genes are responsible for identifying pathogens and mounting a response to fight of the invader. Across the primate phylogeny there exists a wide breadth of immune responses to the same pathogens. Comparative primate immune genetic research is necessary to identify and understand genetic factors resulting in variable immune response.

My research focuses on innate immune genes Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR8 and how variation in these genes across primates may be contributing to the wide range of susceptibility to yellow fever virus (YFV). For example, howler monkeys are exceptionally susceptible to yellow fever virus and are endangered in Northern Argentina due to YFV outbreaks while African primates and apes are resistant.

Publications

Torosin NS, Webster TH, Argibay H, Ferreyra H, Uhart M, Agostini I, Knapp LA. Positively selected variants in functionally important regions of TLR7 in Alouatta guariba clamitans with yellow fever virus exposure in Northern Argentina. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 2020;173:50-60. https://doi.org/10.1002/a jpa.24086.

Full text available here.

Torosin NS, Argibay H, Webster TH, Corneli PS, Knapp LA. 2020. Comparing the selective landscape of TLR7 and TLR8 across primates reveals unique sites under positive selection in Alouatta. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2020;152:106920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106920.

Full text available here.