[A rapid diagnostic test for plague detects Yersinia pestis F1 antigen in ancient human remains].
A rapid diagnostic dipstick test (RDT) that detects Yersinia pestis F1 antigen has been recently applied on 18 putative plague victims exhumed from four archaeological burial sites in southeastern France dating back to the 16(th), 17(th) and 18(th) centuries. The Y. pestis antigen F1 was detected in 12 ancient samples out of 18 (67%). Negative controls confirmed their negativity (100%). Our results emphasize that the detection threshold of the RDT for plague (0.5 ng/ml) is sufficient for a first retrospective diagnosis of Y. pestis infection in ancient remains, and confirm the high specificity and sensitivity of the assay. Double-blind analyses performed by using two different techniques (RDT and 'suicide PCR') led us to the identification of the Y. pestis F1 antigen and the Y. pestis pla and gplD genes. These data provide clear evidence of the presence of Y. pestis in the examined specimens.
Bianucci
Raffaella
R
Laboratorio di Antropologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo, Università di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italie. raffaella.bianucci@unito.it
Rahalison
Lila
L
Ferroglio
Ezio
E
Massa
Emma Rabino
ER
Signoli
Michel
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000382:microbiology; D002102:Cadaver; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000266:history*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011934:Reagent Strips; C086725:caf1 protein, Yersinia pestis; C078140:Pla protease, Yersinia pestis; D010960:Plasminogen Activators