Ancient DNA reveals syphilis-linked bacteria existed in Americas thousands of years ago. Researchers have uncovered genetic evidence suggesting Treponema pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis, was present in the Americas over 5,500 years ago, pushing back the known history of the disease by more than 3,000 years.
Using ancient DNA remnants from a skeleton found in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia, scientists were able to reconstruct the genome of Treponema pallidum. This groundbreaking study sheds new light on the origins of syphilis and challenges the long-held assumption that the disease arrived in the Americas with Christopher Columbus.
The discovery was unexpected, as researchers were not initially searching for signs of disease. Instead, they were studying human population history by sequencing an individual's DNA, generating 1.5 billion fragments of genetic data. It was during this process that teams at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of Lausanne independently detected T. pallidum and joined forces to investigate.
The finding highlights the value of paleogenomics in understanding the evolution of species and potential health risks for past and present communities. Lars Fehren-Schmitz, a geneticist involved in the study, stated that the discovery shows "the unique potential of paleogenomics" in shedding light on the history of diseases.
While the new study does not settle the debate surrounding syphilis, it underscores how much of the story is still missing. The American Association for the Advancement of Science noted that future research will require more ancient genomes from different places and times, alongside studies of human immune responses and closer collaboration with Indigenous communities.
The discovery also raises questions about the origins of syphilis in Europe, where it was first documented in the 15th century. The fact that bacteria related to syphilis existed in the Americas thousands of years ago suggests that the disease may have originated elsewhere before spreading to the New World.
Using ancient DNA remnants from a skeleton found in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia, scientists were able to reconstruct the genome of Treponema pallidum. This groundbreaking study sheds new light on the origins of syphilis and challenges the long-held assumption that the disease arrived in the Americas with Christopher Columbus.
The discovery was unexpected, as researchers were not initially searching for signs of disease. Instead, they were studying human population history by sequencing an individual's DNA, generating 1.5 billion fragments of genetic data. It was during this process that teams at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of Lausanne independently detected T. pallidum and joined forces to investigate.
The finding highlights the value of paleogenomics in understanding the evolution of species and potential health risks for past and present communities. Lars Fehren-Schmitz, a geneticist involved in the study, stated that the discovery shows "the unique potential of paleogenomics" in shedding light on the history of diseases.
While the new study does not settle the debate surrounding syphilis, it underscores how much of the story is still missing. The American Association for the Advancement of Science noted that future research will require more ancient genomes from different places and times, alongside studies of human immune responses and closer collaboration with Indigenous communities.
The discovery also raises questions about the origins of syphilis in Europe, where it was first documented in the 15th century. The fact that bacteria related to syphilis existed in the Americas thousands of years ago suggests that the disease may have originated elsewhere before spreading to the New World.
I gotta say, this is wild! Thinkin' about ancient DNA and how it can give us clues about our past 
. It's crazy to think that syphilis has been around for like 5,500 years already, defies the idea that Columbus was the only one who brought disease to the Americas 
. Now we gotta wonder where syphilis even originated from and how it spread from Europe to the Americas... so much history still left to uncover 
so if bacteria that causes syphilis is like super old, over 5,500 yrs old that means it's probly been around even longer and we just dont no about it yet 
or maybe its true that europeans brought it to the americas but i think its more likely that it was already here cuz the americas were populated way before columbus arrived 
and now they're saying that we need more research on this stuff and talkin to indigenous communities which is like totally important so we can learn from them 
it's crazy to think about how much history is hidden beneath our feet, and how much we still don't know about the past. this study is like a major wake-up call - we've been taught one narrative about syphilis, but it turns out that's not even close to being true! 
Can you believe this? Like, ancient civilizations already had syphilis?! 
. I'm all for paleogenomics and studying human population history through ancient DNA - it's like uncovering secrets of our past! 
. This is huge and I love how they're saying more research is needed but also kinda excited for the possibility of uncovering more about our history 
. Can you imagine what else is hiding in the past and waiting to be uncovered? 
. This changes everything about how we think of history and diseases. It's like, our textbooks need a major update ASAP 
It's a powerful reminder of how connected we all are and how important it is to learn from each other's pasts. I wish there were more ancient DNA discoveries like this one 
, especially about diseases that have affected communities for centuries. This study is definitely a game-changer 
.
5,500 yrs is crazy! can you even imagine life back then? 