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Barbosa MS, Queiroz JHFS, Schnaufer ECS, Silva GD, Marques MFR, Ferreira TS, de Souza GHA, Gonçalves CCM, Marchioro SB, Simionatto S. Seroprevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in Brazilian indigenous people: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11822. [PMID: 38782949 PMCID: PMC11116400 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59369-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Indigenous communities in Brazil have a complex epidemiological profile, which increases their chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. However, limited data is available on Treponema pallidum infections in this population. We investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. pallidum infection in an indigenous population of Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul. Blood samples were collected from September 2017 to March 2020, and the participants were interviewed to obtain comprehensive data on demography and sexual behavior. Serological tests were performed to detect T. pallidum infection. Besides conducting descriptive analysis, we performed Chi-squared tests and determined the bivariate odds ratio. The data were also analyzed using logistic regression. Among the 2190 invited individuals, 1927 (88%) were included in this study. The seroprevalence of T. pallidum infection was 2.91%. The results of a multivariate analysis showed that individuals who were 30-39 years old, with up to 4 years of school education, living in households without piped water, with a history of genital lesions, multiple sexual partners, and having a history of STIs had the highest seroprevalence of T. pallidum. This study showed that behavioral, social, and economic factors play an important role in the transmission of T. pallidum within the indigenous population. Thus, targeted intervention, including imparting education in the native language, mass testing initiatives, and implementing public policies to improve socioeconomic indicators, is needed to reduce the cases of syphilis in this community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo S Barbosa
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Júlio Henrique F S Queiroz
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Erica C S Schnaufer
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gerlaine D Silva
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Michele F R Marques
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Tiago S Ferreira
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gleyce H A de Souza
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Crhistinne C M Gonçalves
- State Health Secretariat of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Silvana B Marchioro
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Simone Simionatto
- Health Science Research Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
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2
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Ekselius L, Gerdin B, Vahlquist A. The Syphilis Pandemic Prior to Penicillin: Origin, Health Issues, Cultural Representation and Ethical Challenges. Acta Derm Venereol 2024; 104:adv34879. [PMID: 38436430 PMCID: PMC10926575 DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v104.34879] [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] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Syphilis is currently a treatable disease, with a low incidence in most developed countries, although the prevalence has increased recently, especially among men-who-have-sex-with-men. In many of the least developed countries, however, syphilis is still a major health problem, although the problem is not comparable to the desperate situation worldwide less than 80 years ago. At that time, and for many centuries previously, syphilis dramatically affected the lives and health of individuals and threatened the well-being of many societies. This review examines the aetiology, transmission, and many manifestations of syphilis from a historical perspective, emphasizing morbidity, treatment, psychosocial and cultural manifestations, as well as ethical issues uncovered in the clinical search for knowledge about the manifestations of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Ekselius
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bengt Gerdin
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Vahlquist
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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3
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Majander K, Pla-Díaz M, du Plessis L, Arora N, Filippini J, Pezo-Lanfranco L, Eggers S, González-Candelas F, Schuenemann VJ. Redefining the treponemal history through pre-Columbian genomes from Brazil. Nature 2024; 627:182-188. [PMID: 38267579 PMCID: PMC10917687 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06965-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The origins of treponemal diseases have long remained unknown, especially considering the sudden onset of the first syphilis epidemic in the late 15th century in Europe and its hypothesized arrival from the Americas with Columbus' expeditions1,2. Recently, ancient DNA evidence has revealed various treponemal infections circulating in early modern Europe and colonial-era Mexico3-6. However, there has been to our knowledge no genomic evidence of treponematosis recovered from either the Americas or the Old World that can be reliably dated to the time before the first trans-Atlantic contacts. Here, we present treponemal genomes from nearly 2,000-year-old human remains from Brazil. We reconstruct four ancient genomes of a prehistoric treponemal pathogen, most closely related to the bejel-causing agent Treponema pallidum endemicum. Contradicting the modern day geographical niche of bejel in the arid regions of the world, the results call into question the previous palaeopathological characterization of treponeme subspecies and showcase their adaptive potential. A high-coverage genome is used to improve molecular clock date estimations, placing the divergence of modern T. pallidum subspecies firmly in pre-Columbian times. Overall, our study demonstrates the opportunities within archaeogenetics to uncover key events in pathogen evolution and emergence, paving the way to new hypotheses on the origin and spread of treponematoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerttu Majander
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marta Pla-Díaz
- Unidad Mixta Infección y Salud Pública, FISABIO/Universidad de Valencia-I2SysBio, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Louis du Plessis
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Quartier Sorge, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natasha Arora
- Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jose Filippini
- Department of Genetic and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luis Pezo-Lanfranco
- Department of Genetic and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) and Prehistory Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Sabine Eggers
- Department of Genetic and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Anthropology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fernando González-Candelas
- Unidad Mixta Infección y Salud Pública, FISABIO/Universidad de Valencia-I2SysBio, Valencia, Spain.
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Verena J Schuenemann
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Ávila-Nieto C, Pedreño-López N, Mitjà O, Clotet B, Blanco J, Carrillo J. Syphilis vaccine: challenges, controversies and opportunities. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1126170. [PMID: 37090699 PMCID: PMC10118025 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1126170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis is a sexually or vertically (mother to fetus) transmitted disease caused by the infection of Treponema pallidum subspecie pallidum (TPA). The incidence of syphilis has increased over the past years despite the fact that this bacterium is an obligate human pathogen, the infection route is well known, and the disease can be successfully treated with penicillin. As complementary measures to preventive campaigns and early treatment of infected individuals, development of a syphilis vaccine may be crucial for controlling disease spread and/or severity, particularly in countries where the effectiveness of the aforementioned measures is limited. In the last century, several vaccine prototypes have been tested in preclinical studies, mainly in rabbits. While none of them provided protection against infection, some prototypes prevented bacteria from disseminating to distal organs, attenuated lesion development, and accelerated their healing. In spite of these promising results, there is still some controversy regarding the identification of vaccine candidates and the characteristics of a syphilis-protective immune response. In this review, we describe what is known about TPA immune response, and the main mechanisms used by this pathogen to evade it. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of integrating this knowledge, in conjunction with the characterization of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), to expedite the development of a syphilis vaccine that can protect against TPA infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ávila-Nieto
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Oriol Mitjà
- Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Spain
- Fight Infections Foundation, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Bonaventura Clotet
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Fight Infections Foundation, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Catalonia, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salut Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Julià Blanco
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Catalonia, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salut Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Carrillo
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salut Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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Metagenomic Research of Infectious Diseases in Archaeological Contexts: Evidence from the Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos (Portugal). APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12126096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Syphilis is one of the most exciting diseases explored in paleopathology and, therefore, tracing back its origin and development has provided a prolific debate. The combination of paleopathological data with historical sources, iconography, and archaeological contexts were the primary sources used to reconstruct its historical path. However, there are some limitations to paleopathological diagnosis due to the nature of bone reaction to stimuli. In addition, historical sources are subjected to a bias of social and cultural nature and the knowledge of those who wrote them. Hence, ancient DNA analysis offers the possibility of acquiring proof of cause by identifying pathogens in an organism. We undertook a metagenomic study of a skeleton exhumed from the Royal Hospital of All Saints (Portugal), renowned for treating syphilis from the 16th century onwards. The skeleton had previously been diagnosed with syphilis according to paleopathological analysis. However, the metagenomics analysis showed no presence of the pathogen associated with syphilis (i.e., Treponema pallidum) but revealed pathogenic microorganisms related to respiratory diseases (pneumonia), nonspecific bone infections (osteomyelitis), and oral bacterial pathologies as well as Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy). The results are exciting and demand a reappraisal of the observed bone changes, recontextualizing their characterization as syphilis related. They prove that past reconstruction of health and disease diagnoses based on assessing human osteological remains of known context (such as a syphilitic hospital) may bias interpretations and, therefore, caution is recommended, not forgetting that the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence (in this case of syphilis) in life.
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An ancient cranium from Dmanisi: Evidence for interpersonal violence, disease, and possible predation by carnivores on Early Pleistocene Homo. J Hum Evol 2022; 166:103180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Plagens-Rotman K, Jarząbek-Bielecka G, Merks P, Kêdzia W, Czarnecka-Operacz M. Syphilis: then and now. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2021; 38:550-554. [PMID: 34658692 PMCID: PMC8501445 DOI: 10.5114/ada.2021.108930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Getting to know the history of syphilis should begin with an attempt to establish the original source of its spread throughout the world. The dispute about the origin of syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum (subspecies pallidum), had not been resolved even as late as in the twenty-first century, and to this day the supporters and opponents of the thesis that syphilis was brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus' sailors have been fighting without solid and sustainable foundations. The French named syphilis "the Neapolitan disease", while the Italians called it "the French disease".
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grażyna Jarząbek-Bielecka
- Division of Developmental Gynaecology and Sexology, Department of Perinatology and Gynaecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Piotr Merks
- Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyñski University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Witold Kêdzia
- Hipolit Cegielski State Higher School of Vocational Education, Gniezno, Poland
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Sukwa N, Simuyandi M, Chirwa M, Kumwimba YM, Chilyabanyama ON, Laban N, Koyuncu A, Chilengi R. Clinical presentation of congenital syphilis in a rotavirus vaccine cohort study in Lusaka: a case series. J Med Case Rep 2021; 15:149. [PMID: 33789741 PMCID: PMC8015191 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-021-02745-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite an otherwise robust national antenatal clinic program, maternal and congenital syphilis remains an important public health issue in Zambia. This case series reports the clinical presentation of seven infants diagnosed with congenital syphilis in Lusaka, Zambia. CASE PRESENTATIONS The cases in this series were incidental findings from a cohort of infants enrolled in a rotavirus vaccine immunogenicity study recruiting infants at 6 weeks of age. As part of clinical care for enrolled participants, we screened mothers of children who presented with adverse events of (i) repeated upper respiratory tract infections/coryza, (ii) skin lesions, and (iii) poor weight gain, for syphilis using rapid plasma reagin test. From a cohort of 214 mother-infant pairs enrolled between September and December 2018, a total of 115 (44.4%) of the mothers reported to have not been screened during antenatal care. Of these, four (3.5%) reported to have tested positive; and only two received treatment. Seven out of 57 (26.6%) children meeting the screening criteria had a positive rapid plasma reagin test result. The mean age at diagnosis was 4.5 months (1.3 months standard deviation), and the common presenting features included coryza (6/7), skin lesions (4/7), conjunctivitis (3/7), pallor/anemia (5/7), wasting (2/7), and underweight (5/7). Three of the seven infants were exposed to human immunodeficiency virus. Following diagnosis, all seven cases received standard treatment according to national treatment guidelines. That is, 6/7 cases received inpatient care with benzylpenicillin for 10 days, while 1/7 was treated as an outpatient and received daily procaine penicillin for 10 days. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that, though screening for syphilis is part of the standard antenatal care in Zambia, it is not offered optimally. There is urgent need to address programmatic shortcomings in syphilis screening and treatment to avoid long-term sequelae. Additionally, clinicians need to raise their index of suspicion and rule out syphilis when confronted with these clinical symptoms, regardless of the mother's human immunodeficiency virus status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nsofwa Sukwa
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Michelo Simuyandi
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Masuzyo Chirwa
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Yvonne Mutombo Kumwimba
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Obvious N. Chilyabanyama
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Natasha Laban
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Aybüke Koyuncu
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Roma Chilengi
- Enteric Disease and Vaccines Research Unit (EDVRU), Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
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Trovato E, Tognetti L, Campoli M, Cinotti E, Rubegni P. Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment: State of The Art. EUROPEAN MEDICAL JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.33590/emj/20-00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The present review summarises the current knowledge in the field of syphilis diagnosis and treatment, along with epidemiologic and historical data. A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar, using the search terms “syphilis”, “diagnosis”, “dermoscopy”, “management AND treatment”, “laboratory tests AND syphilis”, and “primary OR secondary OR tertiary OR congenital syphilis”. A total of 55 out of 100 papers were included in this review. An overview of the different clinical presentation of primary, secondary, tertiary, and congenital syphilis, with particular attention to dermatologic signs and dermoscopic examination, is provided. The panorama diagnostic procedures are illustrated, along with their accuracy and recommendation. Treatment and management options of patients at different syphilis stages are provided and discussed according to the referring guidelines. The dermatologist can play a key role in providing the early and correct diagnosis and setting up in the proper management of patients with syphilis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Trovato
- Dermatology and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Linda Tognetti
- Dermatology and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Campoli
- Dermatology and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Elisa Cinotti
- Dermatology and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Pietro Rubegni
- Dermatology and Skin Bank Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Majander K, Pfrengle S, Kocher A, Neukamm J, du Plessis L, Pla-Díaz M, Arora N, Akgül G, Salo K, Schats R, Inskip S, Oinonen M, Valk H, Malve M, Kriiska A, Onkamo P, González-Candelas F, Kühnert D, Krause J, Schuenemann VJ. Ancient Bacterial Genomes Reveal a High Diversity of Treponema pallidum Strains in Early Modern Europe. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3788-3803.e10. [PMID: 32795443 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Syphilis is a globally re-emerging disease, which has marked European history with a devastating epidemic at the end of the 15th century. Together with non-venereal treponemal diseases, like bejel and yaws, which are found today in subtropical and tropical regions, it currently poses a substantial health threat worldwide. The origins and spread of treponemal diseases remain unresolved, including syphilis' potential introduction into Europe from the Americas. Here, we present the first genetic data from archaeological human remains reflecting a high diversity of Treponema pallidum in early modern Europe. Our study demonstrates that a variety of strains related to both venereal syphilis and yaws-causing T. pallidum subspecies were already present in Northern Europe in the early modern period. We also discovered a previously unknown T. pallidum lineage recovered as a sister group to yaws- and bejel-causing lineages. These findings imply a more complex pattern of geographical distribution and etiology of early treponemal epidemics than previously understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerttu Majander
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany; Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Saskia Pfrengle
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Arthur Kocher
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Judith Neukamm
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tübingen, Sand 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Marta Pla-Díaz
- Joint Research Unit "Infection and Public Health" FISABIO-University of Valencia, Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Valencia, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natasha Arora
- Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gülfirde Akgül
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kati Salo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 38F, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rachel Schats
- Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sarah Inskip
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3ER, UK
| | - Markku Oinonen
- Laboratory of Chronology, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heiki Valk
- Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Martin Malve
- Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Aivar Kriiska
- Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Päivi Onkamo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Biology, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Fernando González-Candelas
- Joint Research Unit "Infection and Public Health" FISABIO-University of Valencia, Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Valencia, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Denise Kühnert
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes Krause
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany; Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (S-HEP), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Verena J Schuenemann
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (S-HEP), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Vicuña L, Klimenkova O, Norambuena T, Martinez FI, Fernandez MI, Shchur V, Eyheramendy S. Postadmixture Selection on Chileans Targets Haplotype Involved in Pigmentation, Thermogenesis and Immune Defense against Pathogens. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 12:1459-1470. [PMID: 32614437 PMCID: PMC7487163 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of positive selection signatures in populations around the world is helping to uncover recent human evolutionary history as well as the genetic basis of diseases. Most human evolutionary genomic studies have been performed in European, African, and Asian populations. However, populations with Native American ancestry have been largely underrepresented. Here, we used a genome-wide local ancestry enrichment approach complemented with neutral simulations to identify postadmixture adaptations underwent by admixed Chileans through gene flow from Europeans into local Native Americans. The top significant hits (P = 2.4×10-7) are variants in a region on chromosome 12 comprising multiple regulatory elements. This region includes rs12821256, which regulates the expression of KITLG, a well-known gene involved in lighter hair and skin pigmentation in Europeans as well as in thermogenesis. Another variant from that region is associated with the long noncoding RNA RP11-13A1.1, which has been specifically involved in the innate immune response against infectious pathogens. Our results suggest that these genes were relevant for adaptation in Chileans following the Columbian exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vicuña
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile
| | - Olga Klimenkova
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tomás Norambuena
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe I Martinez
- Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research, School of Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario I Fernandez
- Department of Urology, Clínica Alemana, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Vladimir Shchur
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Susana Eyheramendy
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile
- Instituto Milenio de Investigación sobre los Fundamentos de los Datos (IMFD)
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12
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Mediannikov O, Fenollar F, Davoust B, Amanzougaghene N, Lepidi H, Arzouni JP, Diatta G, Sokhna C, Delerce J, Levasseur A, Raoult D. Epidemic of venereal treponematosis in wild monkeys: a paradigm for syphilis origin. New Microbes New Infect 2020; 35:100670. [PMID: 32368345 PMCID: PMC7184178 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2020.100670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Treponema pallidum infections have been primarily known as slightly contagious mucocutaneous infections called yaws (tropical Africa and America) and bejel (subtropical North Africa). T. pallidum emerged as a highly infectious venereal syphilis agent in South America, probably about 500 years ago, and because of its venereal transmission, it quickly caused a worldwide pandemic. The disease manifests as lesions, including a chancre; then antibodies become detectable when or slightly after the chancre appears, and before the development of a rash and other systemic manifestations. Venereal diseases are poorly known in monkeys. During fieldwork in Senegal, we discovered an epizootic outbreak of venereal disease that we explored. We detected a venereal form of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue infection in green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus), then observed an epizootic outbreak in Senegal and its spread among baboons a year later. Comparative analysis of T. pallidum genomes from the monkeys' chancres and other Treponema genomes showed an acceleration of the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms, comparable to that observed in syphilis. Identified T. pallidum clones seem to be epizootic through the acceleration of their mutation rate, which is linked to their larger diffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. Mediannikov
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - F. Fenollar
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
| | - B. Davoust
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - N. Amanzougaghene
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - H. Lepidi
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - J.-P. Arzouni
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - G. Diatta
- VITROME, Campus International UCAD-IRD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - C. Sokhna
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
| | - J. Delerce
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - A. Levasseur
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - D. Raoult
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEФI, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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13
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Baker BJ, Crane-Kramer G, Dee MW, Gregoricka LA, Henneberg M, Lee C, Lukehart SA, Mabey DC, Roberts CA, Stodder ALW, Stone AC, Winingear S. Advancing the understanding of treponemal disease in the past and present. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 171 Suppl 70:5-41. [PMID: 31956996 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Syphilis was perceived to be a new disease in Europe in the late 15th century, igniting a debate about its origin that continues today in anthropological, historical, and medical circles. We move beyond this age-old debate using an interdisciplinary approach that tackles broader questions to advance the understanding of treponemal infection (syphilis, yaws, bejel, and pinta). How did the causative organism(s) and humans co-evolve? How did the related diseases caused by Treponema pallidum emerge in different parts of the world and affect people across both time and space? How are T. pallidum subspecies related to the treponeme causing pinta? The current state of scholarship in specific areas is reviewed with recommendations made to stimulate future work. Understanding treponemal biology, genetic relationships, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations is crucial for vaccine development today and for investigating the distribution of infection in both modern and past populations. Paleopathologists must improve diagnostic criteria and use a standard approach for recording skeletal lesions on archaeological human remains. Adequate contextualization of cultural and environmental conditions is necessary, including site dating and justification for any corrections made for marine or freshwater reservoir effects. Biogeochemical analyses may assess aquatic contributions to diet, physiological changes arising from treponemal disease and its treatments (e.g., mercury), or residential mobility of those affected. Shifting the focus from point of origin to investigating who is affected (e.g., by age/sex or socioeconomic status) and disease distribution (e.g., coastal/ inland, rural/urban) will advance our understanding of the treponemal disease and its impact on people through time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda J Baker
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Gillian Crane-Kramer
- Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York
| | - Michael W Dee
- Centre for Isotope Research, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Lesley A Gregoricka
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Maciej Henneberg
- Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Unit, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christine Lee
- Department of Anthropology, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sheila A Lukehart
- Department of Medicine/Infectious Diseases and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - David C Mabey
- Communicable Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Ann L W Stodder
- Office of Archaeological Studies, The Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico
| | - Anne C Stone
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Stevie Winingear
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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14
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15
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Salesse K, Kaupová S, Brůžek J, Kuželka V, Velemínský P. An isotopic case study of individuals with syphilis from the pathological-anatomical reference collection of the national museum in Prague (Czech Republic, 19th century A.D.). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2019; 25:46-55. [PMID: 31051405 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper aims at investigating the possible existence of isotopic offsets in δ13Ccol and δ15Ncol values in relation to tertiary syphilis. MATERIAL Based on materials from the 19th c. A.D. deriving from the pathological-anatomical reference collection (the Jedlička collection) of the National Museum in Prague (Czech Republic), a comparative approach of ten individuals with syphilis and nine without the disease was undertaken. METHODS Bone powder samples were defatted according to the protocol of Liden et al. (1995). Bone collagen was extracted following the protocol of Bocherens et al. (1991). RESULTS Our results show that individuals with syphilis have lower δ13Ccol values than individuals without the disease; the observed difference between the two groups is about 0.3-0.4‰, which is relatively small but still meaningful. However, no difference between δ15Ncol values of the two groups has been noticed. CONCLUSIONS Either diets prescribed by physicians to syphilitic patients or nutritional stress caused by cyclic appetite disturbance due to the disease itself or the administered medical treatment appeared to be possible explanations of the observed isotopic pattern. Overall, the response of the two isotopic proxies could argue for relatively limited nutritional restrictions. SIGNIFICANCE This is the first study examining bone collagen isotopic response to syphilis based on clinically documented human skeletal materials. LIMITATIONS The sample sizes are relatively small and cautiousness must be taken regarding the interpretations of the data. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Compound-specific stable isotope investigations and analysis of mercury content could be helpful to better understand the observed isotopic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Salesse
- Research Unit of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP192, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; UMR 5199: "PACEA, De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie", Université de Bordeaux, Bâtiment B8, allée Geoff ;roy Saint Hilaire, CS50023, 33615, Pessac cedex, France.
| | - Sylva Kaupová
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Václavské námĕstí 68, 11579, Praha 1, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Brůžek
- UMR 5199: "PACEA, De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie", Université de Bordeaux, Bâtiment B8, allée Geoff ;roy Saint Hilaire, CS50023, 33615, Pessac cedex, France; Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Vítězslav Kuželka
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Václavské námĕstí 68, 11579, Praha 1, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Velemínský
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Václavské námĕstí 68, 11579, Praha 1, Czech Republic
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16
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Meffray A, Perrin M, Richier A, Schmitt A, Ardagna Y, Biagini P. Molecular detection of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum in 150-year-old foetal remains, southeastern France. J Med Microbiol 2019; 68:761-769. [PMID: 30994442 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum , is considered as an old disease affecting humans; traces of such infections, including congenital syphilis, are potentially identifiable in archaeological samples. The aim of this research was to perform macroscopic and molecular investigations of T. pallidum on six infant remains, buried between 1837 and 1867, from the cemetery of 'Les Crottes' in Marseille city (southeastern France). METHODOLOGY Pathological analysis of bones from individuals, aged from the twenty-ninth week of amenorrhea to 4-9 months, was performed. Samples served also as a source of ancient DNA (aDNA) for PCR-based molecular investigations targeting T. pallidum DNA; all samples were also tested for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium falciparum DNA. Sequences characterized were cloned and sequenced, and compared to those available in databases.Results/Key findings. All samples tested displayed widespread osteoporotic lesions across the skeleton possibly related to some metabolic or infectious disorders. Subsequent molecular analysis revealed that one individual, SP332 (unborn, 29 amenorrhea weeks, inhumation date 1864-1866), exhibited positive signals for the five T. pallidum amplification systems tested; sequence analysis provided strong evidence for the effective detection of T. pallidum subspecies pallidum DNA. CONCLUSIONS Individual SP332 is the first PCR-confirmed palaeopathological case of syphilis identified in France, and the youngest specimen ever to be diagnosed with certainty for congenital syphilis. Future research aimed at better characterizing this 150-year-old treponeme genome and exploring new archaelogical cases of syphilis in the very young should contribute to a better comprehension of the disease's history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avril Meffray
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France
| | - Marie Perrin
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France
| | - Anne Richier
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France.,INRAP Mediterranee, Marseille, France
| | | | - Yann Ardagna
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France
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17
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Forrestel AK, Kovarik CL, Katz KA. Sexually acquired syphilis: Historical aspects, microbiology, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations. J Am Acad Dermatol 2019; 82:1-14. [PMID: 30986477 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.02.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Syphilis is caused by infection with the spirochetal bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. It was first recognized in the late 15th century. Since 2000, the incidence of sexually acquired syphilis has increased substantially in the developed world, with men who have sex with men and persons living with HIV infection disproportionately affected. Clinical manifestations of syphilis are protean and often include mucocutaneous manifestations. The first article in this continuing medical education series reviews historical aspects, microbiology, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of sexually acquired syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Forrestel
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Carrie L Kovarik
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kenneth A Katz
- Department of Dermatology, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, California
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18
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WOO EUNJIN, KIM JAEHYUN, LEE WONJOON, CHO HELEN, PAK SUNYOUNG. Syphilitic infection in a pre-modern population from South Korea (19th century AD). ANTHROPOL SCI 2019. [DOI: 10.1537/ase.181122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- EUN JIN WOO
- Department of History, College of Liberal Art, Sejong University, Seoul
| | - JAE-HYUN KIM
- Department of Archaeology and Art History, College of Humanities, Dong-A University, Busan
| | - WON-JOON LEE
- National Forensic Service Seoul Institute, Seoul
| | - HELEN CHO
- Department of Anthropology, Davidson College, Davidson
| | - SUNYOUNG PAK
- Department of Anthropology, College of Social Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul
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19
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Abstract
Beginning some 10,000 years ago, humans began a dramatic alteration in living conditions relating especially to the shift in lifeway from foraging to farming. In addition to the initiation of and increasing focus on the production and consumption of domesticated plant carbohydrates, this revolutionary transformation in diet occasioned a decline in mobility and an increased size and agglomeration of populations in semipermanent or permanent settlements. These changes in life conditions presented an opportunity for increased transmission of pathogenic microbes from host to host, such as those that cause major health threats affecting most of the 7.5 billion members of our species today. This article discusses the bioarchaeology of infectious disease, focusing on tuberculosis, treponematosis, dental caries, and periodontitis, all of which continue to contribute to high levels of morbidity and mortality among the world's populations today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark Spencer Larsen
- Department of Anthropology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1106, USA
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20
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Guedes L, Dias O, Neto J, Ribeiro da Silva LDP, Mendonça de Souza SMF, Iñiguez AM. First Paleogenetic Evidence of Probable Syphilis and Treponematoses Cases in the Brazilian Colonial Period. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:8304129. [PMID: 30406142 PMCID: PMC6199871 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8304129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite interest in the origins of syphilis, paleopathological analysis has not provided answers, and paleogenetic diagnosis remains a challenge. Even venereal syphilis has low infectivity which means there are few circulating bacteria for most of the individual's life. Human remains recovered from the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church (17th to 19th centuries) and the Praça XV Cemetery (18th to 19th centuries), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were subjected to Treponema paleogenetic analysis. Historical data point to endemic treponemal infections in the city, including venereal syphilis. Based on the physiopathology of Treponema pallidum infection, 25 samples, mostly from skull remains of young adults, with no visible paleopathological evidence of treponematoses, were analyzed. PCR with three molecular targets, tpp47, polA, and tpp15, were applied. Ancient DNA tpp15 sequences were recovered from two young adults from each archaeological site and revealed the polymorphism that characterizes T. p. subsp. pallidum in a female up to 18 years old, suggesting a probable case of syphilis infection. The results indicated that the epidemiological context and the physiopathology of the disease should be considered in syphilis paleogenetic detection. The findings of Treponema sp. aDNA are consistent with historical documents that describe venereal syphilis and yaws as endemic diseases in Rio de Janeiro. Data on the epidemiological characteristics of the disease and its pathophysiology offer new perspectives in paleopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucélia Guedes
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos (LABTRIP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365 – Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Ondemar Dias
- Instituto de Arqueologia Brasileira, Estr. Cruz Vermelha, 45 – Vila Santa Teresa, Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 26193-415, Brazil
| | - Jandira Neto
- Instituto de Arqueologia Brasileira, Estr. Cruz Vermelha, 45 – Vila Santa Teresa, Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 26193-415, Brazil
| | - Laura da Piedade Ribeiro da Silva
- Instituto de Arqueologia Brasileira, Estr. Cruz Vermelha, 45 – Vila Santa Teresa, Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 26193-415, Brazil
| | - Sheila M. F. Mendonça de Souza
- Departamento de Endemias Samuel Pessoa, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, R. Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480 Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-210, Brazil
| | - Alena Mayo Iñiguez
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos (LABTRIP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365 – Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil
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Šmajs D, Strouhal M, Knauf S. Genetics of human and animal uncultivable treponemal pathogens. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 61:92-107. [PMID: 29578082 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Treponema pallidum is an uncultivable bacterium and the causative agent of syphilis (subsp. pallidum [TPA]), human yaws (subsp. pertenue [TPE]), and bejel (subsp. endemicum). Several species of nonhuman primates in Africa are infected by treponemes genetically undistinguishable from known human TPE strains. Besides Treponema pallidum, the equally uncultivable Treponema carateum causes pinta in humans. In lagomorphs, Treponema paraluisleporidarum ecovar Cuniculus and ecovar Lepus are the causative agents of rabbit and hare syphilis, respectively. All uncultivable pathogenic treponemes harbor a relatively small chromosome (1.1334-1.1405 Mbp) and show gene synteny with minimal genetic differences (>98% identity at the DNA level) between subspecies and species. While uncultivable pathogenic treponemes contain a highly conserved core genome, there are a number of highly variable and/or recombinant chromosomal loci. This is also reflected in the occurrence of intrastrain heterogeneity (genetic diversity within an infecting bacterial population). Molecular differences at several different chromosomal loci identified among TPA strains or isolates have been used for molecular typing and the epidemiological characterization of syphilis isolates. This review summarizes genome structure of uncultivable pathogenic treponemes including genetically variable regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Sascha Knauf
- Work Group Neglected Tropical Diseases, Pathology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany,.
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22
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Abstract
Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) causes syphilis via sexual exposure or via vertical transmission during pregnancy. T. pallidum is renowned for its invasiveness and immune-evasiveness; its clinical manifestations result from local inflammatory responses to replicating spirochaetes and often imitate those of other diseases. The spirochaete has a long latent period during which individuals have no signs or symptoms but can remain infectious. Despite the availability of simple diagnostic tests and the effectiveness of treatment with a single dose of long-acting penicillin, syphilis is re-emerging as a global public health problem, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM) in high-income and middle-income countries. Syphilis also causes several hundred thousand stillbirths and neonatal deaths every year in developing nations. Although several low-income countries have achieved WHO targets for the elimination of congenital syphilis, an alarming increase in the prevalence of syphilis in HIV-infected MSM serves as a strong reminder of the tenacity of T. pallidum as a pathogen. Strong advocacy and community involvement are needed to ensure that syphilis is given a high priority on the global health agenda. More investment is needed in research on the interaction between HIV and syphilis in MSM as well as into improved diagnostics, a better test of cure, intensified public health measures and, ultimately, a vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna W Peeling
- London School of Hygiene &Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - David Mabey
- London School of Hygiene &Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Mary L Kamb
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xiang-Sheng Chen
- National Center for STD Control, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Institute of Dermatology, Nanjing, China
| | - Justin D Radolf
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Adele S Benzaken
- Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STI, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Ministry of Health, Brasília, Brazil
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23
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Complete genome sequences of two strains of Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue from Ghana, Africa: Identical genome sequences in samples isolated more than 7 years apart. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005894. [PMID: 28886021 PMCID: PMC5607219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) is the causative agent of yaws, a multi-stage disease, endemic in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. To date, four TPE strains have been completely sequenced including three TPE strains of human origin (Samoa D, CDC-2, and Gauthier) and one TPE strain (Fribourg-Blanc) isolated from a baboon. All TPE strains are highly similar to T. pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) strains. The mutation rate in syphilis and related treponemes has not been experimentally determined yet. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Complete genomes of two TPE strains, CDC 2575 and Ghana-051, that infected patients in Ghana and were isolated in 1980 and 1988, respectively, were sequenced and analyzed. Both strains had identical consensus genome nucleotide sequences raising the question whether TPE CDC 2575 and Ghana-051 represent two different strains. Several lines of evidence support the fact that both strains represent independent samples including regions showing intrastrain heterogeneity (13 and 5 intrastrain heterogeneous sites in TPE Ghana-051 and TPE CDC 2575, respectively). Four of these heterogeneous sites were found in both genomes but the frequency of alternative alleles differed. The identical consensus genome sequences were used to estimate the upper limit of the yaws treponeme evolution rate, which was 4.1 x 10-10 nucleotide changes per site per generation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The estimated upper limit for the mutation rate of TPE was slightly lower than the mutation rate of E. coli, which was determined during a long-term experiment. Given the known diversity between TPA and TPE genomes and the assumption that both TPA and TPE have a similar mutation rate, the most recent common ancestor of syphilis and yaws treponemes appears to be more than ten thousand years old and likely even older.
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[Nonviral sexually transmitted infections-epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic workup, therapy : Part 3: Treponemes, Gardnerella and trichomonads]. Hautarzt 2017; 68:136-148. [PMID: 28058468 DOI: 10.1007/s00105-016-3917-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In Germany, the reported syphilis prevalence has increased continuously since 2010, with a total of 6834 syphilis cases being reported in 2015. The largest increase of reported syphilis occurred in men who have sex with men (MSM). The antibiotic agent of choice for treatment of syphilis is still penicillin. There are no penicillin-resistant Treponema pallidum strains. Alternatives are ceftriaxone and doxycycline. In Germany, azithromycin is not approved for treatment of syphilis; however, therapy failures are increasingly reported. Bacterial vaginosis is accompanied by vaginal discharge. The vaginal secretion exhibits an increased pH value higher than 4.5. Clinical symptoms are pruritus, burning, and the characteristic amine odor. The probability for bacterial vaginosis is highest in women with higher numbers of sexual partners, unmarried women, early first sexual intercourse, in commercial female sex workers, and those women who regularly apply vaginal douches. The main pathogen of bacterial vaginosis is Gardnerella vaginalis. For oral therapy metronidazole is given, alternatively clindamycin; the latter should be applied additionally as topical agent. Trichomoniasis is considered as the nonviral sexually transmitted infection with the highest prevalence worldwide. Other than direct microscopic detection of the protozoa (trophozoites) in vaginal secretion or urine, PCR has been approved as the diagnostic method with the highest sensitivity. Oral metronidazole represents the therapy of choice in trichomoniasis.
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Hühns M, Röpenack P, Erbersdobler A. Molecular and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Historical Long-Term Preserved Fixed Tissues from Different Human Organs. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135297. [PMID: 26252375 PMCID: PMC4529272 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
University and museum collections are very important sources of biological samples that can be used to asses the past and present genetic diversity of many species. Modern genetic and immunohistochemical techniques can be used on long-term preserved fixed tissues from museum specimens to answer epidemiological questions. A proof of principle was established to apply modern molecular genetics and immunohistochemical methods to these old specimens and to verify the original diagnosis. We analysed 19 specimens from our university collection including human organs that had been in fixative for more than 80 years. The tissues originated from lung, colon, brain, heart, adrenal gland, uterus and skin. We isolated amplifiable DNA from these wet preparations and performed mutational analysis of BRAF, KRAS and EGFR. The tissues were also embedded in paraffin and used for modern histology and immunohistochemistry. Our data show that amplifiable DNA is extractable and ranged from 0.25 to 22.77 μg of total DNA. In three specimens BRAFV600E or KRASG12D mutations were found. Additionally, expression of different proteins like vimentin and GFAP was detected immunohistochemical in six investigated specimens. On the basis of our results the original diagnosis was altered in three specimens. Our work showed that it is possible to extract amplifiable DNA suitable for sequence analysis from long-term fixed tissue. Furthermore, histology and immunohistochemistry is feasible in specimens fixed long time ago. We conclude that these old preparations are suitable for further epidemiological research and that our methods open up new opportunities for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Hühns
- Institute of Pathology, University Medicine of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Paula Röpenack
- Institute of Pathology, University Medicine of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Ancient pathogen genomics: insights into timing and adaptation. J Hum Evol 2014; 79:137-49. [PMID: 25532802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Disease is a major cause of natural selection affecting human evolution, whether through a sudden pandemic or persistent morbidity and mortality. Recent contributions in the field of ancient pathogen genomics have advanced our understanding of the antiquity and nature of human-pathogen interactions through time. Technical advancements have facilitated the recovery, enrichment, and high-throughput sequencing of pathogen and parasite DNA from archived and archaeological remains. These time-stamped genomes are crucial for calibrating molecular clocks to infer the timing of evolutionary events, while providing finer-grain resolution to phylogenetic reconstructions and complex biogeographical patterns. Additionally, genome scale data allow better identification of substitutions linked to adaptations of the pathogen to their human hosts. As methodology continues to improve, ancient genomes of humans and their diverse microbiomes from a range of eras and archaeological contexts will enable population-level ancient analyses in the near future and a better understanding of their co-evolutionary history.
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Tampa M, Sarbu I, Matei C, Benea V, Georgescu SR. Brief history of syphilis. J Med Life 2014; 7:4-10. [PMID: 24653750 PMCID: PMC3956094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Before the discovery of Treponema pallidum as the etiologic agent, the origins of syphilis have been the subject of several debates. Diverse therapeutic agents were employed in an attempt to cure the disease. Examining the milestones in the history of syphilis, the present article reviews the existing theories that tried to explain the origins of the disease, the approach in art, the cultural and the evolution of the treatments from the empiric means to the discovery of penicillin.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tampa
- Dermatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest
| | - I Sarbu
- Dermatology Department, ”Victor Babes” Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest
| | - C Matei
- Dermatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest
| | - V Benea
- Dermatology Department, ”Victor Babes” Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest
| | - SR Georgescu
- Dermatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest
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Abstract
The agents of human treponematoses include four closely related members of the genus Treponema: three subspecies of Treponema pallidum plus Treponema carateum. T. pallidum subsp. pallidum causes venereal syphilis, while T. pallidum subsp. pertenue, T. pallidum subsp. endemicum, and T. carateum are the agents of the endemic treponematoses yaws, bejel (or endemic syphilis), and pinta, respectively. All human treponematoses share remarkable similarities in pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, consistent with the high genetic and antigenic relatedness of their etiological agents. Distinctive features have been identified in terms of age of acquisition, most common mode of transmission, and capacity for invasion of the central nervous system and fetus, although the accuracy of these purported differences is debated among investigators and no biological basis for these differences has been identified to date. In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially set a goal for yaws eradication by 2020. This challenging but potentially feasible endeavor is favored by the adoption of oral azithromycin for mass treatment and the currently focused distribution of yaws and endemic treponematoses and has revived global interest in these fascinating diseases and their causative agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Anastasiou E, Mitchell PD. Palaeopathology and genes: investigating the genetics of infectious diseases in excavated human skeletal remains and mummies from past populations. Gene 2013; 528:33-40. [PMID: 23792062 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Revised: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to review the use of genetics in palaeomicrobiology, and to highlight the importance of understanding past diseases. Palaeomicrobiology is the study of disease pathogens in skeletal and mummified remains from archaeological contexts. It has revolutionarised our understanding of health in the past by enabling a deeper knowledge of the origins and evolution of many diseases that have shaped us as a species. Bacterial diseases explored include tuberculosis, leprosy, bubonic plague, typhoid, syphilis, endemic and epidemic typhus, trench fever, and Helicobacter pylori. Viral diseases discussed include influenza, hepatitis B, human papilloma virus (HPV), human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV-1) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Parasitic diseases investigated include malaria, leishmaniasis, Chagas' disease, roundworm, whipworm, pinworm, Chinese liver fluke, fleas and lice. Through a better understanding of disease origins and their evolution, we can place into context how many infectious diseases are changing over time, and so help us estimate how they may change in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evilena Anastasiou
- Division of Biological Anthropology, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Fitzwilliam Street, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK
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Zobaníková M, Strouhal M, Mikalová L, Čejková D, Ambrožová L, Pospíšilová P, Fulton LL, Chen L, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Šmajs D. Whole genome sequence of the Treponema Fribourg-Blanc: unspecified simian isolate is highly similar to the yaws subspecies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2172. [PMID: 23638193 PMCID: PMC3630124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Unclassified simian strain Treponema Fribourg-Blanc was isolated in 1966 from baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in West Africa. This strain was morphologically indistinguishable from T. pallidum ssp. pallidum or ssp. pertenue strains, and it was shown to cause human infections. Methodology/Principal Findings To precisely define genetic differences between Treponema Fribourg-Blanc (unclassified simian isolate, FB) and T. pallidum ssp. pertenue strains (TPE), a high quality sequence of the whole Fribourg-Blanc genome was determined with 454-pyrosequencing and Illumina sequencing platforms. Combined average coverage of both methods was greater than 500×. Restriction target sites (n = 1,773), identified in silico, of selected restriction enzymes within the Fribourg-Blanc genome were verified experimentally and no discrepancies were found. When compared to the other three sequenced TPE genomes (Samoa D, CDC-2, Gauthier), no major genome rearrangements were found. The Fribourg-Blanc genome clustered with other TPE strains (especially with the TPE CDC-2 strain), while T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strains clustered separately as well as the genome of T. paraluiscuniculi strain Cuniculi A. Within coding regions, 6 deletions, 5 insertions and 117 substitutions differentiated Fribourg-Blanc from other TPE genomes. Conclusions/Significance The Fribourg-Blanc genome showed similar genetic characteristics as other TPE strains. Therefore, we propose to rename the unclassified simian isolate to Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue strain Fribourg-Blanc. Since the Fribourg-Blanc strain was shown to cause experimental infection in human hosts, non-human primates could serve as possible reservoirs of TPE strains. This could considerably complicate recent efforts to eradicate yaws. Genetic differences specific for Fribourg-Blanc could then contribute for identification of cases of animal-derived yaws infections. A bacterial strain isolated in 1966 from baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in West Africa was preliminarily characterized as unclassified simian strain Treponema Fribourg-Blanc (FB). This strain was morphologically identical to T. pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA, agent of syphilis) or ssp. pertenue (TPE, agent of yaws). In this study, we completed a high quality whole genome sequence of simian isolate Treponema Fribourg-Blanc and compared it to known genome sequences of Treponema pallidum strains. No major differences in the gene order of the FB genome were found when compared to all known genomes of Treponema pallidum subspecies. Moreover, the FB genome clustered with other TPE strains, while T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strains clustered separately. In general, the FB genome showed similar genetic characteristics to other TPE strains. Therefore, we proposed that the simian isolate Fribourg-Blanc be classified as a bacterial strain belonging to Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue. It appears that, except for humans, the reservoir of yaws-causing treponemes may also include free-living primates, especially in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Zobaníková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lenka Mikalová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Darina Čejková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lenka Ambrožová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pospíšilová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucinda L. Fulton
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lei Chen
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Erica Sodergren
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Yaws is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum pertenue-a bacterium that closely resembles the causative agent of syphilis-and is spread by skin-to-skin contact in humid tropical regions. Yaws causes disfiguring, and sometimes painful lesions of the skin and bones. As with syphilis, clinical manifestations can be divided into three stages; however, unlike syphilis, mother-to-child transmission does not occur. A major campaign to eradicate yaws in the 1950s and 1960s, by mass treatment of affected communities with longacting, injectable penicillin, reduced the number of cases by 95% worldwide, but yaws has reappeared in recent years in Africa, Asia, and the western Pacific. In 2012, one oral dose of azithromycin was shown to be as effective as intramuscular penicillin in the treatment of the disease, and WHO launched a new initiative to eradicate yaws by 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Mitjà
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Chadha T, Trindade AA. Phylogenetic analysis of pbp genes in treponemes. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2013; 3:18636. [PMID: 23330059 PMCID: PMC3547122 DOI: 10.3402/iee.v3i0.18636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background β-Lactamases are the main cause of bacterial resistance to penicillin, cephalosporins, and related β-lactam compounds. The presence of the novel penicillin-binding protein (pbp) Tp47 in Treponema pallidum has been reported to be a well-known mechanism for turnover of b-lactam antibiotics. Although, T. pallidum remains sensitive to penicillin, clinically significant resistance to macrolides has emerged in many developing countries. The genome sequence of T. pallidum has shown the presence of genes encoding pbp, but there are no current reports of the presence of mobile plasmids. Methods The phylogenetic analysis is used to study the diversity of chromosomal pbp genes and its relatedness to Tp47 in Treponema species. Results In our study, genes encoding penicillin-binding proteins that showed significant similarity to each other appeared in separate clusters. Conclusion Tp47 showed no substantial similarity to other β-lactamases in treponemes. The relatedness of Treponema denticola to other treponemes, including T. pallidum, and the reported presence of natural mobile antibiotic determinants highlight the importance of investigating the diversity of pbp genes in Treponema species. This will lead to a greater understanding of its potential to develop additional antibiotic resistance via horizontal gene transfer that could seriously compromise the treatment and control of syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejpreet Chadha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
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Roberts CA, Millard AR, Nowell GM, Gröcke DR, Macpherson CG, Pearson DG, Evans DH. Isotopic tracing of the impact of mobility on infectious disease: The origin of people with treponematosis buried in hull, England, in the late medieval period. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2012; 150:273-85. [PMID: 23280256 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Treponematosis has been one of the most studied and debated infectious diseases in paleopathology, particularly from the standpoint of its origin, evolution, and transmission. This study links evidence for treponematosis in skeletons from the 14th-16th century AD cemetery of the Augustinian friary of Hull Magistrates Court, England, with data from stable isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that the people with treponemal disease buried at this site were not locally born and raised. The objective is to explore the potential of using stable isotope data to track the place of origin and extent of mobility of individuals with an infectious disease. Dental enamel samples of 12 skeletons were selected for strontium ((87) Sr/(86) Sr ratio) and oxygen (δ(18) O) stable isotope analysis based on the presence (six - diseased) or absence (six - controls) of bone changes associated with treponemal disease. The oxygen isotope ratios of all but three individuals (1047, 1121, 823) overlapped at two standard deviations with the inferred local precipitation range, and only one individual (1216) had a strontium isotope ratio outside the regional range. Two of the four had probable/possible treponemal bone changes. Those with treponemal bone changes were not demonstrably more likely to be migrants than those without such lesions. However, because of extensive documentary evidence for trade with the Baltic Sea area, and for merchants from towns such as Stralsund, Danzig and Elbing being in Hull, it is very plausible that the four migrants came from the Baltic area or even southern Sweden.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Roberts
- Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, England. c.a.roberts@ durham.ac.uk
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Whole genome sequence of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, strain Mexico A, suggests recombination between yaws and syphilis strains. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1832. [PMID: 23029591 PMCID: PMC3447947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA), the causative agent of syphilis, and Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE), the causative agent of yaws, are closely related spirochetes causing diseases with distinct clinical manifestations. The TPA Mexico A strain was isolated in 1953 from male, with primary syphilis, living in Mexico. Attempts to cultivate TPA Mexico A strain under in vitro conditions have revealed lower growth potential compared to other tested TPA strains. Methodology/Principal Findings The complete genome sequence of the TPA Mexico A strain was determined using the Illumina sequencing technique. The genome sequence assembly was verified using the whole genome fingerprinting technique and the final sequence was annotated. The genome size of the Mexico A strain was determined to be 1,140,038 bp with 1,035 predicted ORFs. The Mexico A genome sequence was compared to the whole genome sequences of three TPA (Nichols, SS14 and Chicago) and three TPE (CDC-2, Samoa D and Gauthier) strains. No large rearrangements in the Mexico A genome were found and the identified nucleotide changes occurred most frequently in genes encoding putative virulence factors. Nevertheless, the genome of the Mexico A strain, revealed two genes (TPAMA_0326 (tp92) and TPAMA_0488 (mcp2-1)) which combine TPA- and TPE- specific nucleotide sequences. Both genes were found to be under positive selection within TPA strains and also between TPA and TPE strains. Conclusions/Significance The observed mosaic character of the TPAMA_0326 and TPAMA_0488 loci is likely a result of inter-strain recombination between TPA and TPE strains during simultaneous infection of a single host suggesting horizontal gene transfer between treponemal subspecies. Treponema pallidum is a Gram-negative spirochete that causes diseases with distinct clinical manifestations and uses different transmission strategies. While syphilis (caused by subspecies pallidum) is a worldwide venereal and congenital disease, yaws (caused by subspecies pertenue) is a tropical disease transmitted by direct skin contact. Currently the genetic basis and evolution of these diseases remain unknown. In this study, we describe a high quality whole genome sequence of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strain Mexico A, determined using the ?next generation? sequencing technique (Illumina). Although the genome of this strain contains no large rearrangements in comparison with other treponemal genomes, we found two genes which combined sequences from both subspecies pallidum and pertenue. The observed mosaic character of these two genes is likely a result of inter-strain recombination between pallidum and pertenue during simultaneous infection of a single host.
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Armelagos GJ, Zuckerman MK, Harper KN. The science behind pre-Columbian evidence of syphilis in Europe: research by documentary. Evol Anthropol 2012; 21:50-7. [PMID: 22499439 DOI: 10.1002/evan.20340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This article discusses the presentation of scientific findings by documentary, without the process of peer review. We use, as an example, PBS's "The Syphilis Enigma," in which researchers presented novel evidence concerning the origin of syphilis that had never been reviewed by other scientists. These "findings" then entered the world of peer-reviewed literature through citations of the documentary itself or material associated with it. Here, we demonstrate that the case for pre-Columbian syphilis in Europe that was made in the documentary does not withstand scientific scrutiny. We also situate this example from paleopathology within a larger trend of "science by documentary" or "science by press conference," in which researchers seek to bypass the peer review process by presenting unvetted findings directly to the public.
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Smajs D, Norris SJ, Weinstock GM. Genetic diversity in Treponema pallidum: implications for pathogenesis, evolution and molecular diagnostics of syphilis and yaws. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2012; 12:191-202. [PMID: 22198325 PMCID: PMC3786143 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2011] [Revised: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic uncultivable treponemes, similar to syphilis-causing Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, include T. pallidum ssp. pertenue, T. pallidum ssp. endemicum and Treponema carateum, which cause yaws, bejel and pinta, respectively. Genetic analyses of these pathogens revealed striking similarity among these bacteria and also a high degree of similarity to the rabbit pathogen, Treponema paraluiscuniculi, a treponeme not infectious to humans. Genome comparisons between pallidum and non-pallidum treponemes revealed genes with potential involvement in human infectivity, whereas comparisons between pallidum and pertenue treponemes identified genes possibly involved in the high invasivity of syphilis treponemes. Genetic variability within syphilis strains is considered as the basis of syphilis molecular epidemiology with potential to detect more virulent strains, whereas genetic variability within a single strain is related to its ability to elude the immune system of the host. Genome analyses also shed light on treponemal evolution and on chromosomal targets for molecular diagnostics of treponemal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Smajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Reed DL, Currier RW, Walton SF, Conrad M, Sullivan SA, Carlton JM, Read TD, Severini A, Tyler S, Eberle R, Johnson WE, Silvestri G, Clarke IN, Lagergård T, Lukehart SA, Unemo M, Shafer WM, Beasley RP, Bergström T, Norberg P, Davison AJ, Sharp PM, Hahn BH, Blomberg J. The evolution of infectious agents in relation to sex in animals and humans: brief discussions of some individual organisms. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2011; 1230:74-107. [PMID: 21824167 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06133.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The following series of concise summaries addresses the evolution of infectious agents in relation to sex in animals and humans from the perspective of three specific questions: (1) what have we learned about the likely origin and phylogeny, up to the establishment of the infectious agent in the genital econiche, including the relative frequency of its sexual transmission; (2) what further research is needed to provide additional knowledge on some of these evolutionary aspects; and (3) what evolutionary considerations might aid in providing novel approaches to the more practical clinical and public health issues facing us currently and in the future?
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Reed
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Nahmias AJ, Schollin J, Abramowsky C. Evolutionary-developmental perspectives on immune system interactions among the pregnant woman, placenta, and fetus, and responses to sexually transmitted infectious agents. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2011; 1230:25-47. [PMID: 21824164 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06137.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A balance has evolved over deep time between the various immune systems of the "triad" that is linked together for a short period: the pregnant woman, the fetus, and the placenta. This balance is affected by, and helps to determine, the immune responses to maternal infectious agents that may be transmitted to the fetus/infant transplacentally, intrapartum, or via breast milk. This review identifies newer evolutionary concepts and processes related particularly to the human placenta, innate and adaptive immune systems involved in tolerance, and in responses to sexually transmitted infectious (STI) agents that may be pathogenic to the fetus/infant at different gestational periods and in the first year of life. An evolutionary-developmental (EVO-DEVO) perspective has been applied to the complexities within, and among, the different actors and their beneficial or deleterious outcomes. Such a phylogenetic and ontogenic approach has helped to stimulate several basic questions and suggested possible explanations and novel practical interventions.
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Lopes C, Powell ML, Santos AL. Syphilis and cirrhosis: a lethal combination in a XIX century individual identified from the medical schools collection at the university of Coimbra (Portugal). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 105:1050-3. [PMID: 21225204 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762010000800016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2010] [Accepted: 08/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Syphilis is a chronic infection that is categorized by a three-stage progression. The tertiary stage may affect bones and produce distinctive skull lesions called caries sicca. This paper aims to present an unusual case of syphilis associated with a diagnosis of cirrhosis, which was recorded as the cause of death in a 28-year-old female in 1899. The appearance and distribution of the lesions were compatible with acquired syphilis, as observed in the skull from the Medical Schools Collection of the University of Coimbra. However, the cause of death was recorded as "hypertrophic cirrhosis of the liver", this is a condition that is compatible with several liver disorders, including a primary liver disorder, such as cirrhosis provoked by alcoholism, infection of the liver by syphilis pathogens or by damage to the liver from the use of mercury compounds, which was the common treatment for syphilis at the time. This paper represents a contribution to the understanding of the natural evolution of syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Lopes
- Department of Life Sciences, Center for Anthropology and Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Paleoamerican diet, migration and morphology in Brazil: archaeological complexity of the earliest Americans. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23962. [PMID: 21935369 PMCID: PMC3173364 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 08/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During the early Holocene two main paleoamerican cultures thrived in Brazil: the Tradição Nordeste in the semi-desertic Sertão and the Tradição Itaparica in the high plains of the Planalto Central. Here we report on paleodietary singals of a Paleoamerican found in a third Brazilian ecological setting--a riverine shellmound, or sambaqui, located in the Atlantic forest. Most sambaquis are found along the coast. The peoples associated with them subsisted on marine resources. We are reporting a different situation from the oldest recorded riverine sambaqui, called Capelinha. Capelinha is a relatively small sambaqui established along a river 60 km from the Atlantic Ocean coast. It contained the well-preserved remains of a Paleoamerican known as Luzio dated to 9,945±235 years ago; the oldest sambaqui dweller so far. Luzio's bones were remarkably well preserved and allowed for stable isotopic analysis of diet. Although artifacts found at this riverine site show connections with the Atlantic coast, we show that he represents a population that was dependent on inland resources as opposed to marine coastal resources. After comparing Luzio's paleodietary data with that of other extant and prehistoric groups, we discuss where his group could have come from, if terrestrial diet persisted in riverine sambaquis and how Luzio fits within the discussion of the replacement of paleamerican by amerindian morphology. This study adds to the evidence that shows a greater complexity in the prehistory of the colonization of and the adaptations to the New World.
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Nahmias SB, Nahmias D. Society, sex, and STIs: human behavior and the evolution of sexually transmitted diseases and their agents. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2011; 1230:59-73. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06079.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Cole G, Waldron T. Apple Down 152: A putative case of syphilis from sixth century AD Anglo-Saxon England. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2010; 144:72-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2010] [Accepted: 05/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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