Analysis of ancient microorganism DNA represents one of the newest and most promising branches of molecular archaeology. In particular, microbial DNA associated with human remains can provide direct evidence of the occurrence and frequency of infectious diseases in historic times. Human mummies represent very interesting subjects for palaeomicrobiological investigations as they retain soft tissues. Initial reports on the identification of ancient bacterial pathogens in human mummies using DNA analysis date back to the early nineties and publications are steadily becoming more numerous. However, despite this favourable trend, the analysis of ancient microbial DNA is still a contentious issue. Among the difficulties in ancient bacterial DNA work, sample contamination due to aerosol in laboratories where the DNA of modern microbes is manipulated and the ubiquitous dispersal of microorganisms seem to play the most prominent roles; hence the need for authentication criteria. The present work critically reviews some of the most relevant papers on this subject with special emphasis on the claims of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA identification in dynastic and pre-dynastic mummies from Egypt. The latest achievements in the emerging field of palaeomicrobiology of frozen mummies are also presented and discussed.
The study of bacterial DNA in ancient human mummies
ROLLO, Franco Ugo;LUCIANI, Stefania;MAROTA, Isolina;OLIVIERI, CRISTINA
2006-01-01
Abstract
Analysis of ancient microorganism DNA represents one of the newest and most promising branches of molecular archaeology. In particular, microbial DNA associated with human remains can provide direct evidence of the occurrence and frequency of infectious diseases in historic times. Human mummies represent very interesting subjects for palaeomicrobiological investigations as they retain soft tissues. Initial reports on the identification of ancient bacterial pathogens in human mummies using DNA analysis date back to the early nineties and publications are steadily becoming more numerous. However, despite this favourable trend, the analysis of ancient microbial DNA is still a contentious issue. Among the difficulties in ancient bacterial DNA work, sample contamination due to aerosol in laboratories where the DNA of modern microbes is manipulated and the ubiquitous dispersal of microorganisms seem to play the most prominent roles; hence the need for authentication criteria. The present work critically reviews some of the most relevant papers on this subject with special emphasis on the claims of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA identification in dynastic and pre-dynastic mummies from Egypt. The latest achievements in the emerging field of palaeomicrobiology of frozen mummies are also presented and discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
