Sequence analysis of bacterial DNA in the colon and stomach of the Tyrolean Iceman
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 18926993 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Raul J Cano (0000-0001-6888-5018, California Polytechnic State University), Friedrich Tiefenbrunner, Massimo Ubaldi (0000-0002-4089-2483, Università di Camerino), Clarissa Del Cueto (University of Puerto Rico System), Stefania Luciani (0000-0002-6078-4041, Università di Camerino), Tobe Cox (California Polytechnic State University), Paula Orkand, Paula M Orkand (University of Puerto Rico System), Karl H Künzel, Franco Rollo (Università di Camerino, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2000 |
| Volume | 112 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 297-309 |
| Publication date | 2000-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/1096-8644(200007)112:3<297::aid-ajpa2>3.0.co;2-0 |
| PMID | 10861348 |
| OpenAlex | W2048254122 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 36 |
The male human body found in an Alpine glacier on September 19, 1991 ("Tyrolean Iceman") has, for the first time in history, given scientists a chance to perform detailed anatomical, histological, and molecular investigations on the organs of a person from the Neolithic Age (5350-5100 B.P.). In the present study, tissue samples aseptically taken from the stomach and the colon of the mummy were utilized for DNA extraction, and the DNA was PCR-amplified, using primer pairs designed to bind to fragments of the 16s ribosomal RNA gene (16s rDNA) of a broad range of bacteria. The PCR products were cloned in plasmid vectors, and the recombinant clones (amplicons) were sequenced. The sequence data were finally used for scanning data libraries containing the corresponding sequences of present-day bacteria, to infer the putative ecophysiology of the ancient ones. The same procedure was repeated on some fragments of grass from the clothing found near the corpse. These fragments were taken as a control of the microbiological situation of the glacier. The results show that the flora of the Iceman's stomach is entirely composed of Burkholderia pickettii, an organism commonly found in aquatic habitats. The colon, on the other hand, contains several members of the fecal flora of humans, such as Clostridium perfringens, C. ghonii, C. sordellii, Eubacterium tenue, and Bacteroides sp. The Iceman's colon, however, was found to contain, rather unexpectedly, also some members of the genus Vibrio. The results are discussed in light of what is known about the preservation of microbial DNA at the Iceman's site and of previous parasitological studies performed on the Iceman himself and on human coprolites
16S ribosomal RNA · Ancient DNA · Bacteria · Biology · DNA extraction · Gene · Phylogenetics · Polymerase chain reaction · Ribosomal DNA · Ribosomal RNA · Zoology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Genetics · Microbiology · Paleopathology and ancient diseases
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| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.3 |
| Citation span | 2006 - 2022 (17) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |