INS and leprosy: Long-term absence orreduction of specific dietary-related selective pressures on most Italiansubpopulations with respect to the bulk of western Europeans, as well as prolongedcoexistence with mycobacteria responsible for tuberculosis and leprosy, coupled witha more extensive gene flow from Southern Europe and the Middle East, have maintainedalleles responsible for increased cholesterol levels, insulin resistance andaggressive inflammatory responses to pathogens at considerable frequency in theItalian gene pool.