title: Taxonomic and predicted metabolic profiles of the human gut microbiome in pre-Columbian mummies.
abstract: Characterization of naturally mummified human gut remains could potentially provide insights into the preservation and evolution of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms, and metabolic profiles. We characterized the gut microbiome of two pre-Columbian Andean mummies dating to the 10-15th centuries using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics, and compared them to a previously characterized gut microbiome of an 11th century AD pre-Columbian Andean mummy. Our previous study showed that the Clostridiales represented the majority of the bacterial communities in the mummified gut remains, but that other microbial communities were also preserved during the process of natural mummification, as shown with the metagenomics analyses. The gut microbiome of the other two mummies were mainly comprised by Clostridiales or Bacillales, as demonstrated with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, many of which are facultative anaerobes, possibly consistent with the process of natural mummification requiring low oxygen levels. Metagenome analyses showed the presence of other microbial groups that were positively or negatively correlated with specific metabolic profiles. The presence of sequences similar to both Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani could suggest that these pathogens were prevalent in pre-Columbian individuals. Taxonomic and functional profiling of mummified human gut remains will aid in the understanding of the microbial ecology of the process of natural mummification.
authors: Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA Department of Biology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA.
authors: Tasha M
authors: TM
authors: Santiago-Rodriguez
authors: Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy Center for Anthropological, Paleopathological and Historical Studies of the Sardinian and Mediterranean Populations, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy.
authors: Gino
authors: G
authors: Fornaciari
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Archaeo-Anthropology/ancient DNA, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Luciani
authors: Molecular Research LP (MR DNA), Shallowater, Texas 79363, USA.
authors: Scot E
authors: SE
authors: Dowd
authors: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Julio Garcia Diaz Building, San Juan 00931, Puerto Rico.
authors: Gary A
authors: GA
authors: Toranzos
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Archaeo-Anthropology/ancient DNA, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors: Isolina
authors: I
authors: Marota
authors: Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA Department of Biology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA rcano@calpoly.edu.
authors: Raul J
authors: RJ
authors: Cano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056449:Bacillales / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D000068016:Eubacteriales / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D000068536:Bacillota / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000235:genetics*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D055442:Metabolome / Q000235:genetics; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics; D056186:Metagenomics / Q000379:methods; D009106:Mummies / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Chagas’ disease; Firmicutes; ancient gut microbiomes; leishmaniasis; mummies