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Taylor GM, White-Iribhogbe K, Cole G, Ashby D, Stewart GR, Dawson-Hobbis H. Bioarchaeological investigation of individuals with suspected multibacillary leprosy from the mediaeval leprosarium of St Mary Magdalen, Winchester, Hampshire, UK. J Med Microbiol 2024; 73. [PMID: 38362924 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction. We have examined four burials from the St Mary Magdalen mediaeval leprosarium cemetery in Winchester, Hampshire, UK. One (Sk.8) was a male child, two (Sk.45 and Sk.52) were adolescent females and the fourth (Sk.512) was an adult male. The cemetery was in use between the 10th and 12th centuries. All showed skeletal lesions of leprosy. Additionally, one of the two females (Sk.45) had lesions suggestive of multi-cystic tuberculosis and the second (Sk.52) of leprogenic odontodysplasia (LO), a rare malformation of the roots of the permanent maxillary incisors.Gap statement. Relatively little is known of the manifestations of lepromatous leprosy (LL) in younger individuals from the archaeological record.Aims and Methodology. To address this, we have used ancient DNA testing and osteological examination of the individuals, supplemented with X-ray and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scan as necessary to assess the disease status.Results and Conclusions. The presence of Mycobacterium leprae DNA was confirmed in both females, and genotyping showed SNP type 3I-1 strains but with a clear genotypic variation. We could not confirm Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in the female individual SK.45. High levels of M. leprae DNA were found within the pulp cavities of four maxillary teeth from the male child (Sk.8) with LO, consistent with the theory that the replication of M. leprae in alveolar bone may interfere with root formation at key stages of development. We report our biomolecular findings in these individuals and review the evidence this site has contributed to our knowledge of mediaeval leprosy.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Michael Taylor
- Department of Microbial Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK
| | - Katie White-Iribhogbe
- Centre of African Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London, WC1H 0XG, UK
| | - Garrard Cole
- UCL Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK
| | - David Ashby
- School of History, Archaeology and Philosophy, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR, UK
| | - Graham R Stewart
- Department of Microbial Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK
| | - Heidi Dawson-Hobbis
- School of History, Archaeology and Philosophy, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR, UK
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Rogers LM, Halcrow SE, Kleffmann T, King CL. Comparing Walker's (2008) skull trait sex estimation standard to proteomic sex estimation for a group of South Asian individuals. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2024; 8:100450. [PMID: 38314398 PMCID: PMC10837481 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2023.100450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
This research assesses the potential for misidentification of sex in individuals of South Asian ancestry using the Walker (2008) morphological skull sex estimation standard [1]. Chromosomal sex was assessed using proteomic analysis targeting sex chromosome-specific amylogenic peptides. Results showed that the Walker method produced incorrect classification for 36.7 % of individuals. Overwhelmingly, those incorrectly assigned were chromosomally male. Misidentification was due to males within the group having lower trait scores (i.e., more gracile traits) than the standard would predict. There was also a high level of overlap in trait scores between male and females indicating reduced expression of sexual dimorphism. The use of established multivariate statistical techniques improved accuracy of sex estimation in some cases, but larger osteological data sets from South Asian individuals are required to develop population-specific standards. We suggest that peptide analysis may provide a useful tool for the forensic anthropologist when assessing sex in populations without population specific osteological standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Rogers
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Siân E Halcrow
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Torsten Kleffmann
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Charlotte L King
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Sudron EL, Kinaston RL, Cawte H, Kleffmann T, Kumar A, Kramer R, Stirling C, Reid M, Barr D, McStay A, Lawrence M, King K, Halcrow SE. Extracting the truth through chemical analyses: Early life histories of Victorian-era dental patients in Aotearoa New Zealand. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 183:141-156. [PMID: 37925739 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There are few bioarcheological analyses of life experiences in colonial period Aotearoa New Zealand, despite this being a time of major adaptation and social change. In our study, early life histories are constructed from multi-isotope and enamel peptide analysis of permanent first molars associated with Victorian era dental practices operating between AD 1881 and 1905 in Invercargill. Chemical analyses of the teeth provide insight into the childhood feeding practices, diet, and mobility of the people who had their teeth extracted. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four permanent left mandibular first molars were analyzed from a cache of teeth discovered at the Leviathan Gift Depot site during excavations in 2019. The methods used were: (1) enamel peptide analysis to assess chromosomal sex; (2) bulk (δ13 Ccarbonate ) and incremental (δ13 Ccollagen and δ15 N) isotope analysis of dentin to assess childhood diet; and (3) strontium (87 Sr/86 Sr) and oxygen (δ18 O) isotope analysis of enamel to assess childhood residency. Two modern permanent first molars from known individuals were analyzed as controls. RESULTS The archaeological teeth were from three chromosomal males and one female. The protein and whole diets were predominately based on C3 -plants and domestic animal products (meat and milk). A breastfeeding signal was only identified in one historic male. All individuals likely had childhood residences in Aotearoa. DISCUSSION Unlike most bioarcheological studies that rely on the remains of the dead, the teeth analysed in this study were extracted from living people. We suggest that the dental patients were likely second or third generation colonists to Aotearoa, with fairly similar childhood diets. They were potentially lower-class individuals either living in, or passing through, the growing colonial center of Invercargill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Sudron
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
- Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Kinaston
- Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
- BioArch South, Waitati, New Zealand
| | - Hayden Cawte
- New Zealand Heritage Properties, Dunedin and Invercargill, New Zealand
| | - Torsten Kleffmann
- Centre for Protein Research, Research Infrastructure Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Abhishek Kumar
- North Region Environmental, California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Robyn Kramer
- Centre for Trace Element Analysis, Department of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Claudine Stirling
- Centre for Trace Element Analysis, Department of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Malcolm Reid
- Centre for Trace Element Analysis, Department of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David Barr
- Centre for Trace Element Analysis, Department of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Amy McStay
- New Zealand Heritage Properties, Dunedin and Invercargill, New Zealand
| | - Megan Lawrence
- New Zealand Heritage Properties, Dunedin and Invercargill, New Zealand
| | - Kathryn King
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Siân E Halcrow
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Chocholova E, Roudnicky P, Potesil D, Fialova D, Krystofova K, Drozdova E, Zdrahal Z. Extraction Protocol for Parallel Analysis of Proteins and DNA from Ancient Teeth and Dental Calculus. J Proteome Res 2023; 22:3311-3319. [PMID: 37699853 PMCID: PMC10563166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Dental calculus is becoming a crucial material in the study of past populations with increasing interest in its proteomic and genomic content. Here, we suggest further development of a protocol for analysis of ancient proteins and a combined approach for subsequent ancient DNA extraction. We tested the protocol on recent teeth, and the optimized protocol was applied to ancient tooth to limit the destruction of calculus as it is a precious and irreplaceable source of dietary, microbiological, and ecological information in the archeological context. Finally, the applicability of the protocol was demonstrated on samples of the ancient calculus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Chocholova
- Laboratory of Biological and Molecular Anthropology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Roudnicky
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Potesil
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Fialova
- Laboratory of Biological and Molecular Anthropology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karolina Krystofova
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Drozdova
- Laboratory of Biological and Molecular Anthropology, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Zdrahal
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
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