First ancient syphilis genomes decoded

(Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History) An international research team has recovered the first historic genomes from the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis. It was previously not thought possible to recover DNA of this bacterium from ancient samples. In the study, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, the researchers were able to distinguish genetically between the subspecies of the disease that cause syphilis and that cause yaws, which are not readily distinguishable in skeletal remains.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news