9000-Year-Old Mycobacterium tuberculosis Found in Ancient Settlement
Author Information
Author(s): Hershkovitz Israel, Donoghue Helen D., Minnikin David E., Besra Gurdyal S., Lee Oona Y-C., Gernaey Angela M., Galili Ehud, Eshed Vered, Greenblatt Charles L., Lemma Eshetu, Bar-Gal Gila Kahila, Spigelman Mark
Primary Institution: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Hypothesis
Can ancient human remains provide evidence of tuberculosis and its relationship with early agricultural societies?
Conclusion
The study confirmed the presence of tuberculosis in a Neolithic population, suggesting a long-term co-existence of humans and the pathogen.
Supporting Evidence
- DNA from five M. tuberculosis genetic loci was detected in the ancient bones.
- High performance liquid chromatography confirmed the presence of mycolic acid lipid biomarkers specific for M. tuberculosis.
- The findings suggest that tuberculosis existed in human populations long before modern medicine.
Takeaway
Scientists found signs of tuberculosis in the bones of a woman and an infant who lived 9000 years ago, showing that the disease has been around for a very long time.
Methodology
Conventional PCR and high performance liquid chromatography were used to analyze bone samples for M. tuberculosis DNA and lipid biomarkers.
Potential Biases
There may be risks of bias due to the reliance on specific molecular techniques that could yield false positives.
Limitations
The study's findings may be limited by the preservation state of the ancient DNA and potential contamination during analysis.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on skeletal remains of a woman and an infant from a Neolithic settlement.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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