학술논문
Pathogen genomics study of an early medieval community in Germany reveals extensive co-infections.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Bonczarowska JH; Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, 24105, Kiel, Germany.; Susat J; Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, 24105, Kiel, Germany.; Mühlemann B; Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany.; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Charité, 10117, Berlin, Germany.; Jasch-Boley I; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, Palaeoanthropology Working Group, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 23, 72070, Tübingen, Germany.; Brather S; Institute of Archaeology, Freiburg University, Belfortstraße 22, 79085, Freiburg, Germany.; Höke B; Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Berliner Straße 12, 73728, Esslingen, Germany.; Brather-Walter S; Institute of Archaeology, Freiburg University, Belfortstraße 22, 79085, Freiburg, Germany.; Schoenenberg V; Museum im Ritterhaus, Ritterstraße 10, 77652, Offenburg, Germany.; Scheschkewitz J; Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Berliner Straße 12, 73728, Esslingen, Germany.; Graenert G; Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Berliner Straße 12, 73728, Esslingen, Germany.; Krausse D; Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Berliner Straße 12, 73728, Esslingen, Germany.; Francken M; Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Konstanz, Germany.; Jones TC; Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany.; Center for Pathogen Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK.; Wahl J; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, Palaeoanthropology Working Group, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 23, 72070, Tübingen, Germany.; Nebel A; Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, 24105, Kiel, Germany.; Krause-Kyora B; Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, 24105, Kiel, Germany. b.krause-kyora@ikmb.uni-kiel.de.
Source
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 100960660 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1474-760X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14747596 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Genome Biol Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
Abstract
Background: The pathogen landscape in the Early European Middle Ages remains largely unexplored. Here, we perform a systematic pathogen screening of the rural community Lauchheim "Mittelhofen," in present-day Germany, dated to the Merovingian period, between fifth and eighth century CE. Skeletal remains of individuals were subjected to an ancient DNA metagenomic analysis. Genomes of the detected pathogens were reconstructed and analyzed phylogenetically.
Results: Over 30% of the individuals exhibit molecular signs of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), parvovirus B19, variola virus (VARV), and Mycobacterium leprae. Seven double and one triple infection were detected. We reconstructed four HBV genomes and one genome each of B19, VARV, and M. leprae. All HBV genomes are of genotype D4 which is rare in Europe today. The VARV strain exhibits a unique pattern of gene loss indicating that viruses with different gene compositions were circulating in the Early Middle Ages. The M. leprae strain clustered in branch 3 together with the oldest to-date genome from the UK.
Conclusions: The high burden of infectious disease, together with osteological markers of physiological stress, reflect a poor health status of the community. This could have been an indirect result of the climate decline in Europe at the time, caused by the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA). Our findings suggest that LALIA may have created an ecological context in which persistent outbreaks set the stage for major epidemics of severe diseases such as leprosy and smallpox hundreds of years later.
(© 2022. The Author(s).)
Results: Over 30% of the individuals exhibit molecular signs of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), parvovirus B19, variola virus (VARV), and Mycobacterium leprae. Seven double and one triple infection were detected. We reconstructed four HBV genomes and one genome each of B19, VARV, and M. leprae. All HBV genomes are of genotype D4 which is rare in Europe today. The VARV strain exhibits a unique pattern of gene loss indicating that viruses with different gene compositions were circulating in the Early Middle Ages. The M. leprae strain clustered in branch 3 together with the oldest to-date genome from the UK.
Conclusions: The high burden of infectious disease, together with osteological markers of physiological stress, reflect a poor health status of the community. This could have been an indirect result of the climate decline in Europe at the time, caused by the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA). Our findings suggest that LALIA may have created an ecological context in which persistent outbreaks set the stage for major epidemics of severe diseases such as leprosy and smallpox hundreds of years later.
(© 2022. The Author(s).)