title: Morphological and biomolecular evidence for tuberculosis in 8th century AD skeletons from Bélmegyer-Csömöki domb, Hungary.
abstract: Macromorphological analysis of skeletons, from 20 selected graves of the 8th century AD Bélmegyer-Csömöki domb, revealed 19 cases of possible skeletal tuberculosis. Biomolecular analyses provided general support for such diagnoses, including the individual without pathology, but the data did not show coherent consistency over the range of biomarkers examined. Amplification of ancient DNA fragments found evidence for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA only in five graves. In contrast, varying degrees of lipid biomarker presence were recorded in all except two of the skeletons, though most lipid components appeared to be somewhat degraded. Mycobacterial mycolic acid biomarkers were absent in five cases, but the weak, possibly degraded profiles for the remainder were smaller and inconclusive for either tuberculosis or leprosy. The most positive lipid biomarker evidence for tuberculosis was provided by mycolipenic acid, with 13 clear cases, supported by five distinct possible cases. Combinations of mycocerosic acids were present in all but three graves, but in one case a tuberculosis-leprosy co-infection was indicated. In two specimens with pathology, no lipid biomarker evidence was recorded, but one of these specimens provided M. tuberculosis complex DNA fragments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: balinte@bio.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Microbiology and Centre for the History of Medicine, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: h.donoghue@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helen D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Donoghue
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: o.y.lee@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Oona Y-C
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: h.wu.2@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Houdini H T
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: g.besra@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gurdyal S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Besra
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: d.e.minnikin@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Minnikin
authors.affiliation: Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: ian.d.bull@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.affiliation: National Mass Spectrometry Service Centre, School of Medicine, Grove Building, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. Electronic address: g.llewellyn@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
authors.affiliation: National Mass Spectrometry Service Centre, School of Medicine, Grove Building, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. Electronic address: christopher.matthew.williams@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: olga.spekker@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Spekker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: palfigy@bio.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pálfi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics; D009171:Mycolic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D010164:Paleopathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008055:Lipids; D009171:Mycolic Acids
keywords: Ancient DNA; Lipid biomarkers; Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex; PCR; Palaeopathology