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Palaeomicrobiology: current issues and perspectives

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 3, pages 23–35 (2005)Cite this article

Key Points

  • The discipline of palaeomicrobiology involves the detection, identification and characterization of microorganisms in ancient remains. The materials examined include mummified tissues, bone and dental pulp. Although a variety of techniques have been used in palaeomicrobiological analyses, most data have been obtained using PCR-based techniques.

  • As palaeomicrobiology is a relatively new discipline that deals with samples that can be many thousands of years old, the establishment of generally agreed standards for palaeomicrobiological studies is a very welcome, but fairly new, development, and many of the published studies do not conform to these standards. In this article, the authors summarize the data obtained in important paleomicrobiological studies using a classification system for authenticity and strength of evidence based on that used in evidence-based medicine.

  • In addition to solving long-standing historical mysteries, it is hoped that the palaeomicrobiological analysis of ancient pathogens could influence current models of emerging infections and could contribute to the development of appropriate preventative measures.

Abstract

Palaeomicrobiology is an emerging field that is devoted to the detection, identification and characterization of microorganisms in ancient remains. Data indicate that host-associated microbial DNA can survive for almost 20,000 years, and environmental bacterial DNA preserved in permafrost samples has been dated to 400,000–600,000 years. In addition to frozen and mummified soft tissues, bone and dental pulp can also be used to search for microbial pathogens. Various techniques, including microscopy and immunodetection, can be used in palaeomicrobiology, but most data have been obtained using PCR-based molecular techniques. Infections caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites have all been diagnosed using palaeomicrobiological techniques. Additionally, molecular typing of ancient pathogens could help to reconstruct the epidemiology of past epidemics and could feed into current models of emerging infections, therefore contributing to the development of appropriate preventative measures.

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Figure 1: Prevention of contamination in palaeomicrobiology.
Figure 2: Tooth processing for the collection of dental pulp.
Figure 3: Techniques used for the detection of ancient pathogens.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge G. Aboudharam, L. V. Dang and L. Tran-Hung for expert help in the preparation of teeth pictures and P. Kelly for reviewing the manuscript.

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  1. Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020, IFR 48, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, Marseille, 13385 Cedex 05, France

    Michel Drancourt & Didier Raoult

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  1. Michel Drancourt
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Correspondence to Didier Raoult.

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DATABASES

Entrez

Bartonella henselae

Coxiella burnetti

Mycobacterium leprae

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Treponema pallidum

Yersinia pestis

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Drancourt, M., Raoult, D. Palaeomicrobiology: current issues and perspectives. Nat Rev Microbiol 3, 23–35 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1063

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