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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Detection and molecular characterization of 9000-year-old Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a neolithic settlement in the Eastern mediterranean
PLoS ONE, Volume 3, No. 10, Article e3426, Year 2008
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Description
Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the principal etiologic agent of human tuberculosis. It has no environmental reservoir and is believed to have co-evolved with its host over millennia. This is supported by skeletal evidence of the disease in early humans, and inferred from M. tuberculosis genomic analysis. Direct examination of ancient human remains for M. tuberculosis biomarkers should aid our understanding of the nature of prehistoric tuberculosis and the host/pathogen relationship. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used conventional PCR to examine bone samples with typical tuberculosis lesions from a woman and infant, who were buried together in the now submerged site of Atlit-Yam in the Eastern Mediterranean, dating from 9250-8160 years ago. Rigorous precautions were taken to prevent contamination, and independent centers were used to confirm authenticity of findings. DNA from five M tuberculosis genetic loci was detected and had characteristics consistent with extant genetic lineages. High performance liquid chromatography was used as an independent method of verification and it directly detected mycolic acid lipid biomarkers, specific for the M. tuberculosis complex. Conclusions/Significance: Human tuberculosis was confirmed by morphological and molecular methods in a population living in one of the first villages with evidence of agriculture and animal domestication. The widespread use of animals was not a source of infection but may have supported a denser human population that facilitated transmission of the tubercle bacillus. The similarity of the M. tuberculosis genetic signature with those of today gives support to the theory of a long-term co-existence of host and pathogen. © 2008 Hershkovitz et al.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s001.doc
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s002.doc
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s003.doc
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s004.doc
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s005.doc
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s006.doc
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s007.tif
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s008.tif
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s009.tif
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC2565837/bin/pone.0003426.s010.tif
Authors & Co-Authors
Hershkovitz, Israel
Israel, Tel Aviv-yafo
Tel Aviv University
Donoghue, Helen D.
United Kingdom, London
University College London
Minnikin, David Ernest
United Kingdom, Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Besra, Gurdyal Singh
United Kingdom, Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Lee, Oona Y.C.
United Kingdom, Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Gernaey, Angela M.
United Kingdom, Salford
University of Salford
Galili, Ehud
Israel, Atlit
Israel Antiquities Authority
Eshed, Vered
Israel, Tel Aviv-yafo
Tel Aviv University
Leonard Greenblatt, Charles L.
Israel, Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Lemma, Eshetu
Israel, Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Public Health Institute
Bar-Gal, Gila Kahila
Israel, Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Spigelman, Mark
United Kingdom, London
University College London
Israel, Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Statistics
Citations: 455
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0003426
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Participants Gender
Female