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Fontani F, Boano R, Cinti A, Demarchi B, Sandron S, Rampelli S, Candela M, Traversari M, Latorre A, Iacovera R, Abondio P, Sarno S, Mackie M, Collins M, Radini A, Milani C, Petrella E, Giampalma E, Minelli A, Larocca F, Cilli E, Luiselli D. Bioarchaeological and paleogenomic profiling of the unusual Neolithic burial from Grotta di Pietra Sant'Angelo (Calabria, Italy). Sci Rep 2023; 13:11978. [PMID: 37488251 PMCID: PMC10366206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39250-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Neolithic burial of Grotta di Pietra Sant'Angelo (CS) represents a unique archaeological finding for the prehistory of Southern Italy. The unusual placement of the inhumation at a rather high altitude and far from inhabited areas, the lack of funerary equipment and the prone deposition of the body find limited similarities in coeval Italian sites. These elements have prompted wider questions on mortuary customs during the prehistory of Southern Italy. This atypical case requires an interdisciplinary approach aimed to build an integrated bioarchaeological profile of the individual. The paleopathological investigation of the skeletal remains revealed the presence of numerous markers that could be associated with craft activities, suggesting possible interpretations of the individual's lifestyle. CT analyses, carried out on the maxillary bones, showed the presence of a peculiar type of dental wear, but also a good density of the bone matrix. Biomolecular and micromorphological analyses of dental calculus highlight the presence of a rich Neolithic-like oral microbiome, the composition of which is consistent with the presence pathologies. Finally, paleogenomic data obtained from the individual were compared with ancient and modern Mediterranean populations, including unpublished high-resolution genome-wide data for 20 modern inhabitants of the nearby village of San Lorenzo Bellizzi, which provided interesting insights into the biodemographic landscape of the Neolithic in Southern Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Fontani
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Rosa Boano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cinti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Beatrice Demarchi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Sarah Sandron
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Simone Rampelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Candela
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mirko Traversari
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Adriana Latorre
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Rocco Iacovera
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Paolo Abondio
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Meaghan Mackie
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, København, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, København, Denmark
- School of Archeology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Matthew Collins
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, København, Denmark
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3ER, UK
| | - Anita Radini
- School of Archeology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Chantal Milani
- SIOF - Italian Society of Forensic Odontology, Strada Degli Schiocchi 12, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Enrico Petrella
- Radiology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Via Carlo Forlanini 34, 47121, Forlì, Italy
| | - Emanuela Giampalma
- Radiology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Via Carlo Forlanini 34, 47121, Forlì, Italy
| | - Antonella Minelli
- Department of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Molise, Via Francesco De Sanctis, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Felice Larocca
- Speleo-Archaeological Research Group, University of Bari, Piazza Umberto I 1, 70121, Bari, Italy
- Speleo-Archaeological Research Centre "Enzo dei Medici", Via Lucania 3, 87070, Roseto Capo Spulico (CS), Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cilli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy.
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Davranoglou LR, Embirikos L. Toad zoonyms mirror the linguistic and demographic history of Greece. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283136. [PMID: 36989260 PMCID: PMC10057758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The common toad (Bufo bufo) has been the subject of many folk tales and superstitions in Western Europe, and as a result, it is characterised by numerous common names (zoonyms). However, the zoonyms of the toad and its associated traditions have remained unexplored in the Balkans, one of Europe's linguistic hotspots. In the present study, it was attempted to fill this knowledge gap by focusing on Greece, where more than 7.700 individuals were interviewed both in the field and through online platforms, in order to document toad zoonyms from all varieties and dialects of Greek, as well as local non-Greek languages such as Arvanitika, South Slavic dialects, and Vlach. It was found that the academically unattested zoonyms of the toad provide an unmatched and previously unexplored linguistic and ethnographic tool, as they reflect the linguistic, demographic, and historical processes that shaped modern Greece. This is particularly pertinent in the 21st century, when a majority of the country's dialects and languages are in danger of imminent extinction-and some have already gone silent. Overall, the present study shows the significance of recording zoonyms of indigenous and threatened languages as excellent linguistic and ethnographic tools that safeguard our planet's ethnolinguistic diversity and enhance our understanding on how pre-industrial communities interacted with their local fauna. Furthermore, in contrast to all other European countries, which only possess one or only a few zoonyms for the toad, the Greek world boasts an unmatched 37 zoonyms, which attest to its role as a linguistic hotspot.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonidas Embirikos
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Bruno F, Laganà V, Di Lorenzo R, Bruni AC, Maletta R. Calabria as a Genetic Isolate: A Model for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092288. [PMID: 36140389 PMCID: PMC9496333 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although originally multi-ethnic in its structure, nowadays the Calabria region of southern Italy represents an area with low genetic heterogeneity and a high level of consanguinity that allows rare mutations to be maintained due to the founder effect. A complex research methodology—ranging from clinical activity to the genealogical reconstruction of families/populations across the centuries, the creation of databases, and molecular/genetic research—was modelled on the characteristics of the Calabrian population for more than three decades. This methodology allowed the identification of several novel genetic mutations or variants associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, a higher prevalence of several hereditary neurodegenerative diseases has been reported in this population, such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Niemann–Pick type C disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and Gerstmann–Straussler–Scheinker disease. Here, we summarize and discuss the results of research data supporting the view that Calabria could be considered as a genetic isolate and could represent a model, a sort of outdoor laboratory—similar to very few places in the world—useful for the advancement of knowledge on neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bruno
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre (CRN), Department of Primary Care, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.B.); (A.C.B.)
| | - Valentina Laganà
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | | | - Amalia C. Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre (CRN), Department of Primary Care, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.B.); (A.C.B.)
| | - Raffaele Maletta
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre (CRN), Department of Primary Care, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
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Clinical Network for Big Data and Personalized Health: Study Protocol and Preliminary Results. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116365. [PMID: 35681950 PMCID: PMC9180513 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The use of secondary hospital-based clinical data and electronical health records (EHR) represent a cost-efficient alternative to investigate chronic conditions. We present the Clinical Network Big Data and Personalised Health project, which collects EHRs for patients accessing hospitals in Central-Southern Italy, through an integrated digital platform to create a digital hub for the collection, management and analysis of personal, clinical and environmental information for patients, associated with a biobank to perform multi-omic analyses. A total of 12,864 participants (61.7% women, mean age 52.6 ± 17.6 years) signed a written informed consent to allow access to their EHRs. The majority of hospital access was in obstetrics and gynaecology (36.3%), while the main reason for hospitalization was represented by diseases of the circulatory system (21.2%). Participants had a secondary education (63.5%), were mostly retired (25.45%), reported low levels of physical activity (59.6%), had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and were smokers (30.2%). A large percentage (35.8%) were overweight and the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia was 36.4%, 11.1% and 19.6%, respectively. Blood samples were retrieved for 8686 patients (67.5%). This project is aimed at creating a digital hub for the collection, management and analysis of personal, clinical, diagnostic and environmental information for patients, and is associated with a biobank to perform multi-omic analyses.
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Abondio P, Sarno S, Giuliani C, Laganà V, Maletta R, Bernardi L, Bruno F, Colao R, Puccio G, Frangipane F, Borroni B, Van Broeckhoven C, Luiselli D, Bruni A. Amyloid Precursor Protein A713T Mutation in Calabrian Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Population Genomics Approach to Estimate Inheritance from a Common Ancestor. Biomedicines 2021; 10:biomedicines10010020. [PMID: 35052700 PMCID: PMC8773445 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutation A713T in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been linked to cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and cerebrovascular disease. Despite its rarity, it has been observed in several families from the same geographical area, in the Calabria region in Southern Italy. Genotyping of 720,000 genome-wide SNPs with the HumanOmniExpress BeadChip was performed for six patients that were representative of apparently unrelated Calabrian families, as well as a Belgian subject of Italian descent (all with the same A713T mutation and disease). Their genomic structure and genetic relationships were analyzed. Demographic reconstruction and coalescent theory were applied to estimate the time of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) among patients. Results show that all A713T carriers fell into the genetic variability of Southern Italy and were not more closely related to each other than to any other healthy Calabrian individual. However, five out of seven patients shared a 1.7 Mbp-long DNA segment centered on the A713T mutation, making it possible to estimate a tMRCA for its common origin in the Calabrian region dating back over 1000 years. The analysis of affected individuals with methodologies based on human population genomics thus provides informative insights in support of clinical observations and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Abondio
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology, Center for Genome Biology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.S.); (C.G.)
- Correspondence: (P.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology, Center for Genome Biology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.S.); (C.G.)
| | - Cristina Giuliani
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology, Center for Genome Biology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.S.); (C.G.)
| | - Valentina Laganà
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Raffaele Maletta
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Livia Bernardi
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Francesco Bruno
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Rosanna Colao
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Gianfranco Puccio
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Francesca Frangipane
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Christine Van Broeckhoven
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Center for Molecular Neurology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, 2600 Antwerp, Belgium;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Ancient DNA Laboratory, Department of Cultural Heritage, Ravenna Campus, University of Bologna, 48121 Ravenna, Italy;
| | - Amalia Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Center, Azianda Sanitaria Provinciale Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy; (V.L.); (R.M.); (L.B.); (F.B.); (R.C.); (G.P.); (F.F.)
- Correspondence: (P.A.); (A.B.)
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Sarno S, Boscolo Agostini R, De Fanti S, Ferri G, Ghirotto S, Modenini G, Pettener D, Boattini A. Y-chromosome variability and genetic history of Commons from Northern Italy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 175:665-679. [PMID: 33969895 PMCID: PMC8360088 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Genetic drift and admixture are driving forces in human evolution, but their concerted impact to population evolution in historical times and at a micro‐geographic scale is poorly assessed. In this study we test a demographic model encompassing both admixture and drift to the case of social‐cultural isolates such as the so‐called “Commons.” Materials and methods Commons are peculiar institutions of medieval origins whose key feature is the tight relationship between population and territory, mediated by the collective property of shared resources. Here, we analyze the Y‐chromosomal genetic structure of four Commons (for a total of 366 samples) from the Central and Eastern Padana plain in Northern Italy. Results Our results reveal that all these groups exhibit patterns of significant diversity reduction, peripheral/outlier position within the Italian/European genetic space and high frequency of Common‐specific haplogroups. By explicitly testing different drift‐admixture models, we show that a drift‐only model is more probable for Central Padana Commons, while additional admixture (~20%) from external population around the same time of their foundation cannot be excluded for the Eastern ones. Discussion Building on these results, we suggest central Middle Ages as the most probable age of foundation for three of the considered Commons, the remaining one pointing to late antiquity. We conclude that an admixture‐drift model is particularly useful for interpreting the genetic structure and recent demographic history of small‐scale populations in which social‐cultural features play a significant role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Sara De Fanti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Department of Diagnostic and Clinical Medicine and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Silvia Ghirotto
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgia Modenini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Pettener
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessio Boattini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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First Bronze Age Human Mitogenomes from Calabria (Grotta Della Monaca, Southern Italy). Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050636. [PMID: 33922908 PMCID: PMC8146030 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Italian peninsula was host to a strong history of migration processes that shaped its genomic variability since prehistoric times. During the Metal Age, Sicily and Southern Italy were the protagonists of intense trade networks and settlements along the Mediterranean. Nonetheless, ancient DNA studies in Southern Italy are, at present, still limited to prehistoric and Roman Apulia. Here, we present the first mitogenomes from a Middle Bronze Age cave burial in Calabria to address this knowledge gap. We adopted a hybridization capture approach, which enabled the recovery of one complete and one partial mitochondrial genome. Phylogenetic analysis assigned these two individuals to the H1e and H5 subhaplogroups, respectively. This preliminary phylogenetic analysis supports affinities with coeval Sicilian populations, along with Linearbandkeramik and Bell Beaker cultures maternal lineages from Central Europe and Iberia. Our work represents a starting point which contributes to the comprehension of migrations and population dynamics in Southern Italy, and highlights this knowledge gap yet to be filled by genomic studies.
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