Multi-omic detection of Mycobacterium leprae in archaeological human dental calculus

ABSTRACT: Mineralised dental plaque (calculus) has proven to be an excellent source of ancient biomolecules. In this study we present a Mycobacterium leprae genome (6.6-fold), the causative agent of leprosy, recovered via shotgun sequencing of 16th century human dental calculus from an individual from Trondheim, Norway. Moreover, ancient mycobacterial peptides were retrieved via mass spectrometry-based proteomics, further validating the presence of the pathogen. M. leprae can readily be detected in the oral cavity and associated mucosal membranes, which likely contributed to it being incorporated into this individual’s dental calculus. This individual showed some possible, but not definitive, evidence of skeletal lesions associated with early stage leprosy. This study is the first known example of successful multi-omics retrieval of M. leprae from archaeological dental calculus. Furthermore, we offer new insights into dental calculus as an alternative sample source to bones or teeth for detecting and molecularly characterizing M. leprae in individuals from the archaeological record.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive HF

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Dental Plaque

SUBMITTER: Anna Fotakis  

LAB HEAD: Thomas P. Gilbert

PROVIDER: PXD017836 | Pride | 2020-10-19

REPOSITORIES: Pride