Open AccessHelicobacter pyloriin ancient human remains
Author(s) -
Frank Maixner,
Kaisa Thorell,
Lena Granehäll,
Bodo Linz,
Yoshan Moodley,
Thomas Rattei,
Lars Engstrand,
Albert Zink
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v25.i42.6289
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , ancient dna , biology , population , genome , human pathogen , evolutionary biology , colonisation , transmission (telecommunications) , genetics , genealogy , colonization , history , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , environmental health , electrical engineering , engineering
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infects the stomachs of approximately 50% of all humans. With its universal occurrence, high infectivity and virulence properties it is considered as one of the most severe global burdens of modern humankind. It has accompanied humans for many thousands of years, and due to its high genetic variability and vertical transmission, its population genetics reflects the history of human migrations. However, especially complex demographic events such as the colonisation of Europe cannot be resolved with population genetic analysis of modern H. pylori strains alone. This is best exemplified with the reconstruction of the 5300-year-old H. pylori genome of the Iceman, a European Copper Age mummy. Our analysis provided precious insights into the ancestry and evolution of the pathogen and underlined the high complexity of ancient European population history. In this review we will provide an overview on the molecular analysis of H. pylori in mummified human remains that were done so far and we will outline methodological advancements in the field of ancient DNA research that support the reconstruction and authentication of ancient H. pylori genome sequences.