Project description: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.
Project description:Analysis of organic residues from different typologies of ancient funerary pottery found in graves at two archaeological sites of Campania Region in southern Italy and dating back to the age of the Italic populations during the first millennium BC. Several analytical techniques have been exploited. Proteomics was decisive for the characterization of the proteins and the assignment of the species of origin. Samples were encrustations on two bowls of the 3rd-4th century BC unhearted in Capua and one Phoenician-type amphora with unusual shape, found in a grave at the necropolis of the Greek colony in Cuma (7th century BC). Concretions on bowls were identified with the decisive contribution of proteomics as bovine bone. The amphora contained 2,500 years old bovine milk.
Project description:This study investigates the efficacy of proteomic analysis of human remains to identify active Mycobacterium leprae infections in the past. Mycobacterial diseases, like leprosy, have plagued human populations for millennia. Thanks to effective treatment options, leprosy is not as widespread and deadly as in the past, yet remains endemic in certain regions with increasing concerns of strains becoming resistant to antibiotic treatments. We present a dual-enzyme, optimised extraction protocol, using trypsin and ProAlanase, to increase the recovery of non-collagenous proteins through a study of five individuals from a Mediaeval leprosarium cemetery, as well as four from a non-leprosy associated cemetery. Here we show that skeletal samples from the leprosarium individuals contain numerous immune proteins associated with modern leprosy, while those from a non-leprosy associated cemetery do not. Through this study, we advance a palaeoimmunology methodology and provide insights into the health of archaeological individuals and offer a means to triage samples for aDNA analysis.