title: Molecular insights into the history of plague.
abstract: Because of the limits inherent in historical sources on ancient plague epidemics, many questions concerning their etiology and epidemiology remain unanswered. Molecular biology tools and the use of dental pulp as a preserved source of bacterial DNA enabled us to demonstrate that Yersinia pestis was the etiologic agent of the 1347 European Black Death and of two additional epidemics in 1590 and 1722 in southern France.
authors.affiliation: Unité des rickettsies, CNRS UPRES-A 6020, faculté de médecine, université de la Méditerranée, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France. Michel.Drancourt@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drancourt
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000382:microbiology*; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D010161:Paleodontology; D010930:Plague / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial