title: Parallel detection of ancient pathogens via array-based DNA capture.
abstract: DNA capture coupled with next generation sequencing is highly suitable for the study of ancient pathogens. Screening for pathogens can, however, be meticulous when assays are restricted to the enrichment of single organisms, which is common practice. Here, we report on an array-based DNA capture screening technique for the parallel detection of nearly 100 pathogens that could have potentially left behind molecular signatures in preserved ancient tissues. We demonstrate the sensitivity of our method through evaluation of its performance with a library known to harbour ancient Mycobacterium leprae DNA. This rapid and economical technique will be highly useful for the identification of historical diseases that are difficult to characterize based on archaeological information alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany kirsten.bos@ifu.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Kirsten I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bioinformatics Tübingen (ZBIT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany.
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany.
authors.forename: Verena J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Schuenemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany.
authors.forename: Åshild J
authors.initials: ÅJ
authors.lastname: Vågene
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany Centre for Bioinformatics Tübingen (ZBIT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herbig
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bioinformatics Tübingen (ZBIT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1283-7065
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nieselt
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72070, Germany Max Planck Institute for History and Sciences, Jena 07745, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krause
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005580:Fossils; D015723:Gene Library; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D005820:Genetic Testing; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / Q000379:methods*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: ancient DNA; array capture; palaeopathology; pathogen screening