Prion genotypes in Central America suggest selection for the V129 allele.

Using the well-characterized, human diversity sample series, we show that the V129 prion allele has a very high frequency in South American populations relative to the East Asian populations from which it arose. We suggest there has been selection at the prion locus, possibly mediated by Kuru-like diseases, which has influenced its allele frequency. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.