Ötzi's non-human DNA: Opportunistic pathogen discovered in Iceman tissue biopsy

Ötzi's human genome was decoded from a hip bone sample taken from the 5,300 year old mummy. However the tiny sample weighing no more than 0.1 g provides so much more information. A team of scientists from EURAC in Bolzano/Bozen together with colleagues from the University of Vienna successfully analysed the non-human DNA in the sample. They found evidence for the presence of Treponema denticola, an opportunistic pathogen involved in the development of periodontal disease. Thus, by just looking at the DNA, the researchers could support a CT-based diagnosis made last year which indicated that the Iceman suffered from periodontitis. The results of the current study have recently been published in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE. [...] sciencedaily.com

Entrada relacionada (2013)


Actualización 16-07-14: Ötzi, el "hombre de hielo", padecía enfermedad periodontal
Investigadores del Instituto EURAC en Bolzano (Italia) y de la Universidad de Viena han descubierto un patógeno oportunista en una biopsia de tejido del "hombre de hielo" Ötzi, un cazador que vivió hace unos 5.300 años y que, por aquel entonces, murió desangrado...