Insights into ancient leprosy and tuberculosis using metagenomics.
Leprosy and tuberculosis were widespread in the past and remain significant diseases today. Comparison of ancient and modern genomes of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis gives insight into their evolution and a calibration of the timescale for observed changes. Recently, whole genome sequencing has revealed genotypes and mixed-strain infections.
Centres for Clinical Microbiology and The History of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Electronic address: h.donoghue@ucl.ac.uk.
Helen D
HD
Donoghue
D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology; D056186:Metagenomics; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology