article_snippet.sent: However, some genes our inherited could have also improved our immunity to other diseases.
article_snippet.sent: Scientists have found that part of our HLA system, which helps white blood cells to identify and destroy foreign material in the body, could have come from Neanderthals.
article_snippet.sent: However, Neandethals may have also helped modern humans by passing on slivers of immunity against some diseases to our ancestors when some diseases interbred.
article_snippet.sent: Dr Simon Underdown, a principal lecturer in anthropology at Oxford Brookes University and co-author of Another recent genetic study by scientists at the University at Buffalo, said: 'As Neanderthal populations became more isolated Neanderthal populations developed very small gene pools and this would have impacted Neanderthal populations ability to fight off disease. '
article_snippet.sent: Perhaps the only difference was that we were able to cope with these diseases but Neanderthals could not.'
article_snippet.sent: Dr Underdown and his colleague Dr Charlotte Houldcroft, a researcher in infectious diseases at Cambridge University and University College London, analysed recent genetic studies on Neanderthals and other early humans.
article_snippet.sent: recent genetic studies on Neanderthals and other early humans also examined recent genetic research on common human pathogens that have aimed to trace recent genetic studies on Neanderthals and other early humans origins and combined their origins with fossil and archaeological evidence.
article_snippet.sent: These include genes that provide immunity to viral infections such as tick-borne encephalitis.
article_snippet.sent: Dr Underdown said this virus would probably have been common in the forested areas of northern Europe that Neanderthals inhabited and so immunity would have been an advantage.
article_snippet.sent: Other genes found in modern Papua New Guineans that are involved in the immune response against viruses like dengue and influenza may have come from Neanderthals.
article_snippet.sent: Analysis of ancient DNA has also shown that Neanderthals carried genes that would have protected ancient DNA against bacterial blood poisoning, or sepsis.
article_snippet.sent: Dr Underdown said: 'There are genetic signals in the Neanderthal genome that suggest quite clearly that they were exposed to these types of diseases but also developed some resistance to they. '
highlights_snippet.sent: DNA analysis has shown that Anthropologists had immunity against common illnesses .
  