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Sanders D, Grunden A, Dunn RR. A review of clothing microbiology: the history of clothing and the role of microbes in textiles. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20200700. [PMID: 33435848 PMCID: PMC7876606 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans have worn clothing for thousands of years, and since its invention, clothing has evolved from its simple utilitarian function for survival to become an integral part of society. While much consideration has been given to the broad environmental impacts of the textile and laundering industries, little is known about the impact wearing clothing has had on the human microbiome, particularly that of the skin, despite our long history with clothing. This review discusses the history of clothing and the evolution of textiles, what is and is not known about microbial persistence on and degradation of various fibres, and what opportunities for the industrial and environmental application of clothing microbiology exist for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deaja Sanders
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Amy Grunden
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Robert R. Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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2
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Leccia C, Alunni V, Quatrehomme G. Modern (forensic) mummies: A study of twenty cases. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 288:330.e1-330.e9. [PMID: 29807756 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Twenty mummies discovered in a forensic context between 2002 and 2016 were compiled in this work. 15 cases were excluded and 15 cases of forensic mummies were found in the literature. In the current work the percentage of mummification was calculated by "the rule of nines" used for describing burned injuries in livings. Dry and hot environments, emaciation, little access to flies are favorable conditions for mummification. Nevertheless mummification was also observed in other cold and humid environments. Extensive mummification (defined in this work as "at least 50% of mummification of the body skin) has occurred in as little as three weeks in the current series. The post mortem interval was estimated by indirect clues. The cause of death was usually impossible to establish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Leccia
- Laboratoire de Médecine Légale et d'Anthropologie médico-légale, Faculté de Médecine, Université Côte d'Azur, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, 06107 Nice Cedex 2, France.
| | - Véronique Alunni
- Laboratoire de Médecine Légale et d'Anthropologie médico-légale, Faculté de Médecine, Université Côte d'Azur, and CEPAM (UMR CNRS 7264), 28 Avenue de Valombrose, 06107 Nice Cedex 2, France
| | - Gérald Quatrehomme
- Laboratoire de Médecine Légale et d'Anthropologie médico-légale, Faculté de Médecine, Université Côte d'Azur, and CEPAM (UMR CNRS 7264), 28 Avenue de Valombrose, 06107 Nice Cedex 2, France
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3
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Ziesemer KA, Mann AE, Sankaranarayanan K, Schroeder H, Ozga AT, Brandt BW, Zaura E, Waters-Rist A, Hoogland M, Salazar-García DC, Aldenderfer M, Speller C, Hendy J, Weston DA, MacDonald SJ, Thomas GH, Collins MJ, Lewis CM, Hofman C, Warinner C. Intrinsic challenges in ancient microbiome reconstruction using 16S rRNA gene amplification. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16498. [PMID: 26563586 PMCID: PMC4643231 DOI: 10.1038/srep16498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, characterization of ancient oral (dental calculus) and gut (coprolite) microbiota has been primarily accomplished through a metataxonomic approach involving targeted amplification of one or more variable regions in the 16S rRNA gene. Specifically, the V3 region (E. coli 341–534) of this gene has been suggested as an excellent candidate for ancient DNA amplification and microbial community reconstruction. However, in practice this metataxonomic approach often produces highly skewed taxonomic frequency data. In this study, we use non-targeted (shotgun metagenomics) sequencing methods to better understand skewed microbial profiles observed in four ancient dental calculus specimens previously analyzed by amplicon sequencing. Through comparisons of microbial taxonomic counts from paired amplicon (V3 U341F/534R) and shotgun sequencing datasets, we demonstrate that extensive length polymorphisms in the V3 region are a consistent and major cause of differential amplification leading to taxonomic bias in ancient microbiome reconstructions based on amplicon sequencing. We conclude that systematic amplification bias confounds attempts to accurately reconstruct microbiome taxonomic profiles from 16S rRNA V3 amplicon data generated using universal primers. Because in silico analysis indicates that alternative 16S rRNA hypervariable regions will present similar challenges, we advocate for the use of a shotgun metagenomics approach in ancient microbiome reconstructions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten A Ziesemer
- Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Allison E Mann
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | - Hannes Schroeder
- Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Center for Geogenetics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrew T Ozga
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Bernd W Brandt
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Egija Zaura
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea Waters-Rist
- Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Menno Hoogland
- Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Domingo C Salazar-García
- Department of Anthropology, University of Cape Town, South Africa.,Departament de Prehistòria i Arqueologia, Universitat de València, Spain.,Department of Human Evolution, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mark Aldenderfer
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, USA
| | | | - Jessica Hendy
- Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Darlene A Weston
- Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Cecil M Lewis
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Corinne Hofman
- Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
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4
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Santiago-Rodriguez TM, Fornaciari G, Luciani S, Dowd SE, Toranzos GA, Marota I, Cano RJ. Gut Microbiome of an 11th Century A.D. Pre-Columbian Andean Mummy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138135. [PMID: 26422376 PMCID: PMC4589460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of natural mummification is a rare and unique process from which little is known about the resulting microbial community structure. In the present study, we characterized the microbiome of paleofeces, and ascending, transverse and descending colon of an 11th century A.D. pre-Columbian Andean mummy by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics. Firmicutes were the most abundant bacterial group, with Clostridium spp. comprising up to 96.2% of the mummified gut, while Turicibacter spp. represented 89.2% of the bacteria identified in the paleofeces. Microbiome profile of the paleofeces was unique when compared to previously characterized coprolites that did not undergo natural mummification. We identified DNA sequences homologous to Clostridium botulinum, Trypanosoma cruzi and human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Unexpectedly, putative antibiotic-resistance genes including beta-lactamases, penicillin-binding proteins, resistance to fosfomycin, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, macrolides, sulfa, quinolones, tetracycline and vancomycin, and multi-drug transporters, were also identified. The presence of putative antibiotic-resistance genes suggests that resistance may not necessarily be associated with a selective pressure of antibiotics or contact with European cultures. Identification of pathogens and antibiotic-resistance genes in ancient human specimens will aid in the understanding of the evolution of pathogens as a way to treat and prevent diseases caused by bacteria, microbial eukaryotes and viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gino Fornaciari
- Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Center for Anthropological, Paleopathological and Historical Studies of the Sardinian and Mediterranean Populations, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Stefania Luciani
- Laboratory of Molecular Archaeo-Anthropology/ancient DNA, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Scot E. Dowd
- Molecular Research LP (MR DNA), Shallowater, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Isolina Marota
- Laboratory of Molecular Archaeo-Anthropology/ancient DNA, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Raul J. Cano
- Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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5
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Warinner C, Speller C, Collins MJ, Lewis CM. Ancient human microbiomes. J Hum Evol 2015; 79:125-36. [PMID: 25559298 PMCID: PMC4312737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Very recently, we discovered a vast new microbial self: the human microbiome. Our native microbiota interface with our biology and culture to influence our health, behavior, and quality of life, and yet we know very little about their origin, evolution, or ecology. With the advent of industrialization, globalization, and modern sanitation, it is intuitive that we have changed our relationship with microbes, but we have little information about the ancestral state of our microbiome, and we therefore lack a foundation for characterizing this change. High-throughput sequencing has opened up new opportunities in the field of paleomicrobiology, allowing us to investigate the evolution of the complex microbial ecologies that inhabit our bodies. By focusing on recent coprolite and dental calculus research, we explore how emerging research on ancient human microbiomes is changing the way we think about ancient disease and how archaeological studies can contribute to a medical understanding of health and nutrition today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Warinner
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Camilla Speller
- Department of Archaeology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Matthew J Collins
- Department of Archaeology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Cecil M Lewis
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73019, USA.
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6
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Maixner F, Thomma A, Cipollini G, Widder S, Rattei T, Zink A. Metagenomic analysis reveals presence of Treponema denticola in a tissue biopsy of the Iceman. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99994. [PMID: 24941044 PMCID: PMC4062476 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient hominoid genome studies can be regarded by definition as metagenomic analyses since they represent a mixture of both hominoid and microbial sequences in an environment. Here, we report the molecular detection of the oral spirochete Treponema denticola in ancient human tissue biopsies of the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old Copper Age natural ice mummy. Initially, the metagenomic data of the Iceman’s genomic survey was screened for bacterial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) specific reads. Through ranking the reads by abundance a relatively high number of rRNA reads most similar to T. denticola was detected. Mapping of the metagenome sequences against the T. denticola genome revealed additional reads most similar to this opportunistic pathogen. The DNA damage pattern of specifically mapped reads suggests an ancient origin of these sequences. The haematogenous spread of bacteria of the oral microbiome often reported in the recent literature could already explain the presence of metagenomic reads specific for T. denticola in the Iceman’s bone biopsy. We extended, however, our survey to an Iceman gingival tissue sample and a mouth swab sample and could thereby detect T. denticola and Porphyrimonas gingivalis, another important member of the human commensal oral microflora. Taken together, this study clearly underlines the opportunity to detect disease-associated microorganisms when applying metagenomics- enabled approaches on datasets of ancient human remains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Maixner
- Institute for Mummies and the Iceman, EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anton Thomma
- CUBE - Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Stefanie Widder
- CUBE - Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Rattei
- CUBE - Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Albert Zink
- CUBE - Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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7
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Ozcan S, Kim BJ, Ro G, Kim JH, Bereuter TL, Reiter C, Dimapasoc L, Garrido D, Mills DA, Grimm R, Lebrilla CB, An HJ. Glycosylated proteins preserved over millennia: N-glycan analysis of Tyrolean Iceman, Scythian Princess and Warrior. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4963. [PMID: 24831691 PMCID: PMC4894394 DOI: 10.1038/srep04963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
An improved understanding of glycosylation will provide new insights into many biological processes. In the analysis of oligosaccharides from biological samples, a strict regime is typically followed to ensure sample integrity. However, the fate of glycans that have been exposed to environmental conditions over millennia has not yet been investigated. This is also true for understanding the evolution of the glycosylation machinery in humans as well as in any other biological systems. In this study, we examined the glycosylation of tissue samples derived from four mummies which have been naturally preserved: – the 5,300 year old “Iceman called Oetzi”, found in the Tyrolean Alps; the 2,400 year old “Scythian warrior” and “Scythian Princess”, found in the Altai Mountains; and a 4 year old apartment mummy, found in Vienna/Austria. The number of N-glycans that were identified varied both with the age and the preservation status of the mummies. More glycan structures were discovered in the contemporary sample, as expected, however it is significant that glycan still exists in the ancient tissue samples. This discovery clearly shows that glycans persist for thousands of years, and these samples provide a vital insight into ancient glycosylation, offering us a window into the distant past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sureyya Ozcan
- 1] Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA [2] Cancer Research Institute & Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea [3]
| | - Bum Jin Kim
- 1] Cancer Research Institute & Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea [2]
| | - Grace Ro
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Jae-Han Kim
- Department of Food Nutrition, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Thomas L Bereuter
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Reiter
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lauren Dimapasoc
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | | | - David A Mills
- University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Rudolf Grimm
- 1] Cancer Research Institute & Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea [2] Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, California 95051, USA [3] Robert Mondavi Institute for Food Science, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA [4]
| | - Carlito B Lebrilla
- 1] Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA [2] Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA [3]
| | - Hyun Joo An
- 1] Cancer Research Institute & Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea [2]
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8
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Piñar G, Piombino-Mascali D, Maixner F, Zink A, Sterflinger K. Microbial survey of the mummies from the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, Italy: biodeterioration risk and contamination of the indoor air. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2013; 86:341-56. [PMID: 23772650 PMCID: PMC3916889 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo contain over 1800 preserved bodies dating from the 16th to 20th centuries AD and showing evidence of biodeterioration. An extensive microbiological and molecular investigation was recently performed. Samples were taken from skin, muscle, hair, bone, stuffing materials, clothes, and surrounding walls as well as from the indoor air. In this study, we witnessed that the different degradation phenomena observed on the variety of materials located at the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are biological in origin. Molecular techniques showed the dominance of halophilic species of the domains Bacteria and Archaea on the walls and – as a result of salt emanating from the walls – on the mummies themselves. Nevertheless, specialized microorganisms belonging to taxa well-known for their cellulolytic and proteolytic activities were detected on clothes and stuffing material, and on skin, muscle, hair, and bone, respectively. This specialized microbiota is threatening the conservation of the mummies themselves. Additionally, sequences related to the human skin microbiome and to some pathogenic Bacteria (order Clostridiales) and fungi (genus Phialosimplex) were identified on samples derived from the mummies. Furthermore, a phosphate-reducing fungus, Penicillium radicum, was detected on bone. Finally, the high concentration of airborne fungal spores is not conducive to the conservation of the human remains and is posing a potential health risk for visitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Piñar
- Department of Biotechnology, VIBT-Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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9
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Gould BA, León B, Buffen AM, Thompson LG. Evidence of a high-Andean, mid-Holocene plant community: An ancient DNA analysis of glacially preserved remains. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2010; 97:1579-1584. [PMID: 21616909 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1000058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Around the world, tropical glaciers and ice caps are retreating at unprecedented rates because of climate change. In at least one location, along the margin of the Quelccaya Ice Cap in southeastern Peru, ancient plant remains have been continually uncovered since 2002. We used genetic analysis to identify plants that existed at these sites during the mid-Holocene. • METHODS We examined remains between 4576 and 5222 yr old, using PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing of a fragment of the chloroplast trnL intron. We then matched these sequences to sequences in GenBank. • KEY RESULTS We found evidence of at least five taxa characteristic of wetlands, which occur primarily at lower elevations in the region today. • CONCLUSIONS A diverse community most likely existed at these locations the last time they were ice-free and thus has the potential to reestablish with time. This is the first genetic analysis of vegetation uncovered by receding glacial ice, and it may become one of many as ancient plant materials are newly uncovered in a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billie A Gould
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850 USA
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Jurado V, Porca E, Pastrana MP, Cuezva S, Fernandez-Cortes A, Saiz-Jimenez C. Microbiological study of bulls of indulgence of the 15th-16th centuries. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2010; 408:3711-5. [PMID: 20595060 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2010] [Revised: 05/05/2010] [Accepted: 05/06/2010] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
During the restoration of the church of "San Esteban" in Cuéllar (Segovia, Spain) a few sepulchres were opened. Among them was that of Doña Isabel de Zuazo, from the 16th century. Together with the corpse was found a series of printed documents from the 15th-16th centuries, most of which were bulls of indulgence. A microbiological study of the documents was carried out using techniques of isolation and molecular microbiology, together with scanning electron microscopy. Most of the identified bacteria were highly suggestive of a human origin, particularly the predominance of Clostridium species consistent with the flora of the human intestinal tract. Our results demonstrate that appreciable post-mortem migration of bacteria has taken place from the corpse to the historic documents. This can be explained considering that the documents were found on pelvic region, and were contaminated by body fluids and putrefaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Jurado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, CSIC, Apartado 1052, 41080 Sevilla, Spain
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11
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Janko M, Zink A, Gigler AM, Heckl WM, Stark RW. Nanostructure and mechanics of mummified type I collagen from the 5300-year-old Tyrolean Iceman. Proc Biol Sci 2010; 277:2301-9. [PMID: 20356896 PMCID: PMC2894913 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.0377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin protects the body from pathogens and degradation. Mummified skin in particular is extremely resistant to decomposition. External influences or the action of micro-organisms, however, can degrade the connective tissue and lay the subjacent tissue open. To determine the degree of tissue preservation in mummified human skin and, in particular, the reason for its durability, we investigated the structural integrity of its main protein, type I collagen. We extracted samples from the Neolithic glacier mummy known as ‘the Iceman’. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed collagen fibrils that had characteristic banding patterns of 69 ± 5 nm periodicity. Both the microstructure and the ultrastructure of dermal collagen bundles and fibrils were largely unaltered and extremely well preserved by the natural conservation process. Raman spectra of the ancient collagen indicated that there were no significant modifications in the molecular structure. However, AFM nanoindentation measurements showed slight changes in the mechanical behaviour of the fibrils. Young's modulus of single mummified fibrils was 4.1 ± 1.1 GPa, whereas the elasticity of recent collagen averages 3.2 ± 1.0 GPa. The excellent preservation of the collagen indicates that dehydration owing to freeze-drying of the collagen is the main process in mummification and that the influence of the degradation processes can be addressed, even after 5300 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Janko
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Theresienstrasse 41, 80333 Munich, Germany
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12
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Great Plagues of the Past and Remaining Questions. PALEOMICROBIOLOGY 2008. [PMCID: PMC7121113 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-75855-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Due to the difficulty of obtaining tissue samples from victims of the ancient plagues, it is not always possible to utilise palaeomicrobiology techniques to determine the etiology of ancient infection. Therefore, it is often necessary to utilise other means to arrive at a likely diagnosis. The most helpful of these is the literary description of the disease. While this is often the best evidence available, working with such documents can prove difficult. Three great plagues of the ancient world, the Plague of Athens, the Antonine Plague, and the Justiniac Plague are described in either Latin or ancient Greek. The difficulties encountered when translating any ancient foreign language are compounded by the fact that so many words in these languages have a variety of meanings. This chapter reviews the three great plagues of antiquity from a clinical perspective.
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13
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Thompson LG, Mosley-Thompson E, Brecher H, Davis M, León B, Les D, Lin PN, Mashiotta T, Mountain K. Abrupt tropical climate change: past and present. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:10536-43. [PMID: 16815970 PMCID: PMC1484420 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0603900103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Three lines of evidence for abrupt tropical climate change, both past and present, are presented. First, annually and decadally averaged delta(18)O and net mass-balance histories for the last 400 and 2,000 yr, respectively, demonstrate that the current warming at high elevations in the mid- to low latitudes is unprecedented for at least the last 2 millennia. Second, the continuing retreat of most mid- to low-latitude glaciers, many having persisted for thousands of years, signals a recent and abrupt change in the Earth's climate system. Finally, rooted, soft-bodied wetland plants, now exposed along the margins as the Quelccaya ice cap (Peru) retreats, have been radiocarbon dated and, when coupled with other widespread proxy evidence, provide strong evidence for an abrupt mid-Holocene climate event that marked the transition from early Holocene (pre-5,000-yr-B.P.) conditions to cooler, late Holocene (post-5,000-yr-B.P.) conditions. This abrupt event, approximately 5,200 yr ago, was widespread and spatially coherent through much of the tropics and was coincident with structural changes in several civilizations. These three lines of evidence argue that the present warming and associated glacier retreat are unprecedented in some areas for at least 5,200 yr. The ongoing global-scale, rapid retreat of mountain glaciers is not only contributing to global sea-level rise but also threatening freshwater supplies in many of the world's most populous regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lonnie G Thompson
- Byrd Polar Research Center and Departments of Geological Sciences and Geography, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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14
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Varmuza K, Makristathis A, Schwarzmeier J, Seidler H, Mader RM. Exploration of anthropological specimens by GC-MS and chemometrics. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2005; 24:427-452. [PMID: 15389850 DOI: 10.1002/mas.20020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Anthropological specimens combine a variety of unfavorable characteristics, rendering their evaluation an analytical challenge. Their remarkable status is primarily based on two characteristics: (i) these very rare samples of human origin are testimonies of human history and are, therefore, available only in minute amounts for analytical purposes, and (ii) the analysis of these samples is extremely limited by the decomposition of molecules, which are easily detected in living organisms, such as nucleic acids and proteins, but are subject to rapid post-mortem decay. In this article, we review the methods and results of archaeometry, emphasizing the role of MS combined with chemometrics. Focusing on experimental results for fatty acid profiles, specimens from mummies from different civilizations were compared. Considering in particular the Tyrolean Iceman, the application of chemometric methods to GC-MS data recovers essential information about the preservation and the storage conditions of mummies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Varmuza
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Laboratory for Chemometrics, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.
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Abstract
Palaeomicrobiology is an emerging field that is devoted to the detection, identification and characterization of microorganisms in ancient remains. Data indicate that host-associated microbial DNA can survive for almost 20,000 years, and environmental bacterial DNA preserved in permafrost samples has been dated to 400,000-600,000 years. In addition to frozen and mummified soft tissues, bone and dental pulp can also be used to search for microbial pathogens. Various techniques, including microscopy and immunodetection, can be used in palaeomicrobiology, but most data have been obtained using PCR-based molecular techniques. Infections caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites have all been diagnosed using palaeomicrobiological techniques. Additionally, molecular typing of ancient pathogens could help to reconstruct the epidemiology of past epidemics and could feed into current models of emerging infections, therefore contributing to the development of appropriate preventative measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Drancourt
- Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020, IFR 48, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France
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Rollo F, Ubaldi M, Ermini L, Marota I. Otzi's last meals: DNA analysis of the intestinal content of the Neolithic glacier mummy from the Alps. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:12594-9. [PMID: 12244211 PMCID: PMC130505 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.192184599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Samples of the intestinal content were collected from the ileum and colon of the Neolithic glacier mummy popularly known as the Tyrolean Iceman, or Otzi. DNA was extracted from the samples and PCR amplified, using a variety of primer pairs designed to bind to different genes (mammal mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene, plant/fungal nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA gene, plant chloroplast ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large subunit gene). This made it possible to distinguish between animal and plant food residues (macroremains) and pollen (microremains). According to the DNA reconstruction, the man's last meal was composed of red deer (Cervus elaphus) meat, and, possibly, cereals; this meal had been preceded by another one based on ibex (Capra ibex), different species of dicots, and cereals. The DNA spectrum corresponding to pollen residues in the colon, on the other hand, fits with the hypothesis that the last journey of the Neolithic hunter/warrior was made through a subalpine coniferous forest to the site at over 3,200 m above sea level, where his mummified body was to be discovered 5,000 years later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Rollo
- Laboratorio di Archeo-Antropologia molecolare/DNA antico, Università di Camerino, I-62032 Camerino, Italy.
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Cano RJ, Tiefenbrunner F, Ubaldi M, Del Cueto C, Luciani S, Cox T, Orkand P, Künzel KH, Rollo F. Sequence analysis of bacterial DNA in the colon and stomach of the Tyrolean Iceman. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2000; 112:297-309. [PMID: 10861348 DOI: 10.1002/1096-8644(200007)112:3<297::aid-ajpa2>3.0.co;2-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The male human body found in an Alpine glacier on September 19, 1991 ("Tyrolean Iceman") has, for the first time in history, given scientists a chance to perform detailed anatomical, histological, and molecular investigations on the organs of a person from the Neolithic Age (5350-5100 B.P.). In the present study, tissue samples aseptically taken from the stomach and the colon of the mummy were utilized for DNA extraction, and the DNA was PCR-amplified, using primer pairs designed to bind to fragments of the 16s ribosomal RNA gene (16s rDNA) of a broad range of bacteria. The PCR products were cloned in plasmid vectors, and the recombinant clones (amplicons) were sequenced. The sequence data were finally used for scanning data libraries containing the corresponding sequences of present-day bacteria, to infer the putative ecophysiology of the ancient ones. The same procedure was repeated on some fragments of grass from the clothing found near the corpse. These fragments were taken as a control of the microbiological situation of the glacier. The results show that the flora of the Iceman's stomach is entirely composed of Burkholderia pickettii, an organism commonly found in aquatic habitats. The colon, on the other hand, contains several members of the fecal flora of humans, such as Clostridium perfringens, C. ghonii, C. sordellii, Eubacterium tenue, and Bacteroides sp. The Iceman's colon, however, was found to contain, rather unexpectedly, also some members of the genus Vibrio. The results are discussed in light of what is known about the preservation of microbial DNA at the Iceman's site and of previous parasitological studies performed on the Iceman himself and on human coprolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Cano
- Environmental Biotechnology Institute, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California 93407, USA
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