title: Gut Microbiome of an 11th Century A.D. Pre-Columbian Andean Mummy.
abstract: The process of natural mummification is a rare and unique process from which little is known about the resulting microbial community structure. In the present study, we characterized the microbiome of paleofeces, and ascending, transverse and descending colon of an 11th century A.D. pre-Columbian Andean mummy by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics. Firmicutes were the most abundant bacterial group, with Clostridium spp. comprising up to 96.2% of the mummified gut, while Turicibacter spp. represented 89.2% of the bacteria identified in the paleofeces. Microbiome profile of the paleofeces was unique when compared to previously characterized coprolites that did not undergo natural mummification. We identified DNA sequences homologous to Clostridium botulinum, Trypanosoma cruzi and human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Unexpectedly, putative antibiotic-resistance genes including beta-lactamases, penicillin-binding proteins, resistance to fosfomycin, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, macrolides, sulfa, quinolones, tetracycline and vancomycin, and multi-drug transporters, were also identified. The presence of putative antibiotic-resistance genes suggests that resistance may not necessarily be associated with a selective pressure of antibiotics or contact with European cultures. Identification of pathogens and antibiotic-resistance genes in ancient human specimens will aid in the understanding of the evolution of pathogens as a way to treat and prevent diseases caused by bacteria, microbial eukaryotes and viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tasha M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Santiago-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Center for Anthropological, Paleopathological and Historical Studies of the Sardinian and Mediterranean Populations, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fornaciari
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Archaeo-Anthropology/ancient DNA, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.affiliation: Molecular Research LP (MR DNA), Shallowater, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Scot E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dowd
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Toranzos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Archaeo-Anthropology/ancient DNA, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Isolina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marota
authors.affiliation: Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Raul J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cano
mesh_terms: D003013:Clostridium / Q000235:genetics*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D009106:Mummies / Q000382:microbiology*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S