Mycobacterium leprae diversity and population dynamics in medieval Europe from novel ancient genomes

Hansen’s disease (leprosy), widespread in medieval Europe, is today mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions with around 200,000 new cases reported annually. Despite its long history and appearance in historical records, its origins and past dissemination patterns are still widely unknown. Applying ancient DNA approaches to its major causative agent, Mycobacterium leprae, can significantly improve our understanding of the disease’s complex history. Previous studies have identified a high genetic continuity of the pathogen over the last 1500 years and the existence of at least four M. leprae lineages in some parts of Europe since the Early Medieval period

Mycobacterium leprae diversity and population dynamics in medieval Europe from novel ancient genomes

Background: Hansen’s disease (leprosy), widespread in medieval Europe, is today mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions with around 200,000 new cases reported annually. Despite its long history and appearance in historical records, its origins and past dissemination patterns are still widely unknown. Applying ancient DNA approaches to its major causative agent, Mycobacterium leprae, can significantly improve our understanding of the disease’s complex history. Previous studies have identified a high genetic continuity of the pathogen over the last 1500 years and the existence of at least four M. leprae lineages in some parts of Europe since the Early Medieval period. Results: Here, we reconstructed 19 ancient M. leprae genomes to further investigate M. leprae’s genetic variation in Europe, with a dedicated focus on bacterial genomes from previously unstudied regions (Belarus, Iberia, Russia, Scotland), from multiple sites in a single region (Cambridgeshire, England), and from two Iberian leprosaria. Overall, our data confirm the existence of similar phylogeographic patterns across Europe, including high diversity in leprosaria. Further, we identified a new genotype in Belarus. By doubling the number of complete ancient M. leprae genomes, our results improve our knowledge of the past phylogeography of M. leprae and reveal a particularly high M. leprae diversity in European medieval leprosaria. Conclusions: Our findings allow us to detect similar patterns of strain diversity across Europe with branch 3 as the most common branch and the leprosaria as centers for high diversity. The higher resolution of our phylogeny tree also refined our understanding of the interspecies transfer between red squirrels and humans pointing to a late antique/early medieval transmission. Furthermore, with our new estimates on the past population diversity of M. leprae, we gained first insights into the disease’s global history in relation to major historic events such as the Roman expansion or the beginning of the regular transatlantic long distance trade. In summary, our findings highlight how studying ancient M. leprae genomes worldwide improves our understanding of leprosy’s global history and can contribute to current models of M. leprae’s worldwide dissemination, including interspecies transmissions

Mycobacterium leprae diversity and population dynamics in medieval Europe from novel ancient genomes.

Funder: Max-Planck SocietyFunder: St John’s College, CambridgeFunder: Fondation Raoul FollereauFunder: University of Zurich’s University Research Priority Program “Evolution in Action: From Genomes to Ecosystems”Funder: the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (S-HEP) at the University of TübingenBackgroundHansen's disease (leprosy), widespread in medieval Europe, is today mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions with around 200,000 new cases reported annually. Despite its long history and appearance in historical records, its origins and past dissemination patterns are still widely unknown. Applying ancient DNA approaches to its major causative agent, Mycobacterium leprae, can significantly improve our understanding of the disease's complex history. Previous studies have identified a high genetic continuity of the pathogen over the last 1500 years and the existence of at least four M. leprae lineages in some parts of Europe since the Early Medieval period.ResultsHere, we reconstructed 19 ancient M. leprae genomes to further investigate M. leprae's genetic variation in Europe, with a dedicated focus on bacterial genomes from previously unstudied regions (Belarus, Iberia, Russia, Scotland), from multiple sites in a single region (Cambridgeshire, England), and from two Iberian leprosaria. Overall, our data confirm the existence of similar phylogeographic patterns across Europe, including high diversity in leprosaria. Further, we identified a new genotype in Belarus. By doubling the number of complete ancient M. leprae genomes, our results improve our knowledge of the past phylogeography of M. leprae and reveal a particularly high M. leprae diversity in European medieval leprosaria.ConclusionsOur findings allow us to detect similar patterns of strain diversity across Europe with branch 3 as the most common branch and the leprosaria as centers for high diversity. The higher resolution of our phylogeny tree also refined our understanding of the interspecies transfer between red squirrels and humans pointing to a late antique/early medieval transmission. Furthermore, with our new estimates on the past population diversity of M. leprae, we gained first insights into the disease's global history in relation to major historic events such as the Roman expansion or the beginning of the regular transatlantic long distance trade. In summary, our findings highlight how studying ancient M. leprae genomes worldwide improves our understanding of leprosy's global history and can contribute to current models of M. leprae's worldwide dissemination, including interspecies transmissions

RESULTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY OF FUNERAL RITES OF SLAVGOROD DISTRICT OF MOGILEV REGION ACCORDING TO 2014–2017 EXCAVATIONS

Материалы археологического изучения курганных некрополей являются ценным источником по реконструкции миграционных процессов, этнокультурных трансформаций, социально-политического устройства и эволюции религиозных представлений населения X – XIII вв. Обозначенный регион в древнерусское время был заселён племенами радимичей, что в достаточной мере отражают письменные свидетельства Повести временных лет и материалы предшествующих раскопок. Однако, вместе с тем, остаётся ряд важных вопросов, на которые в настоящее время нет однозначных ответов. Наиболее важным следует считать вопрос генезиса племён радимичей, времени заселения ими белорусского Посожья, а также реконструкцию процессов огосударствления и христианизации исследуемой территории. Для ответа на поставленные вопросы необходим комплексный анализ письменных источников, данных археологии, лингвистики, этнографии, применения естественно-научных методов. В рамках настоящей статьи впервые вводятся в широкий научный оборот результаты крайних археологических раскопок, а также обозначено их место в решении поставленных вопросов.= The results of an archaeological study of the burial mounds are a valuable source for the reconstruction of migration processes, ethnocultural transformations, socio-political structure and the evolution of religious beliefs of the population of the 10th - 13th centuries. The designated region in ancient Russian time was inhabited by the Radimichi tribes, which is reflected in the written evidence of the Tale of Bygone Years (the primary chronicle) and excavation materials. However, a number of important questions remain, to which there are currently no definite answers. The question of the genesis of the Radimichi tribes, the time of their settlement in the Belarusian Posozhie, as well as the reconstruction of the processes of nationalization and Christianization of this territory should be considered the most important issue. To answer these questions, a comprehensive analysis of written sources, data from archeology, linguistics, ethnography and the use of natural scientific methods are required. Within the framework of this article, for the first time, the results of recent archaeological excavations are introduced into a wide scientific circulation, and their place in solving the questions posed is indicated

RESULTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY OF FUNERAL RITES OF SLAVGOROD DISTRICT OF MOGILEV REGION ACCORDING TO 2014–2017 EXCAVATIONS

Материалы археологического изучения курганных некрополей являются ценным источником по реконструкции миграционных процессов, этнокультурных трансформаций, социально-политического устройства и эволюции религиозных представлений населения X – XIII вв. Обозначенный регион в древнерусское время был заселён племенами радимичей, что в достаточной мере отражают письменные свидетельства Повести временных лет и материалы предшествующих раскопок. Однако, вместе с тем, остаётся ряд важных вопросов, на которые в настоящее время нет однозначных ответов. Наиболее важным следует считать вопрос генезиса племён радимичей, времени заселения ими белорусского Посожья, а также реконструкцию процессов огосударствления и христианизации исследуемой территории. Для ответа на поставленные вопросы необходим комплексный анализ письменных источников, данных археологии, лингвистики, этнографии, применения естественно-научных методов. В рамках настоящей статьи впервые вводятся в широкий научный оборот результаты крайних археологических раскопок, а также обозначено их место в решении поставленных вопросов.= The results of an archaeological study of the burial mounds are a valuable source for the reconstruction of migration processes, ethnocultural transformations, socio-political structure and the evolution of religious beliefs of the population of the 10th - 13th centuries. The designated region in ancient Russian time was inhabited by the Radimichi tribes, which is reflected in the written evidence of the Tale of Bygone Years (the primary chronicle) and excavation materials. However, a number of important questions remain, to which there are currently no definite answers. The question of the genesis of the Radimichi tribes, the time of their settlement in the Belarusian Posozhie, as well as the reconstruction of the processes of nationalization and Christianization of this territory should be considered the most important issue. To answer these questions, a comprehensive analysis of written sources, data from archeology, linguistics, ethnography and the use of natural scientific methods are required. Within the framework of this article, for the first time, the results of recent archaeological excavations are introduced into a wide scientific circulation, and their place in solving the questions posed is indicated

Mycobacterium leprae diversity and population dynamics in medieval Europe from novel ancient genomes

Background: Hansen’s disease (leprosy), widespread in medieval Europe, is today mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions with around 200,000 new cases reported annually. Despite its long history and appearance in historical records, its origins and past dissemination patterns are still widely unknown. Applying ancient DNA approaches to its major causative agent, Mycobacterium leprae, can significantly improve our understanding of the disease’s complex history. Previous studies have identified a high genetic continuity of the pathogen over the last 1500 years and the existence of at least four M. leprae lineages in some parts of Europe since the Early Medieval period. Results: Here, we reconstructed 19 ancient M. leprae genomes to further investigate M. leprae’s genetic variation in Europe, with a dedicated focus on bacterial genomes from previously unstudied regions (Belarus, Iberia, Russia, Scotland), from multiple sites in a single region (Cambridgeshire, England), and from two Iberian leprosaria. Overall, our data confirm the existence of similar phylogeographic patterns across Europe, including high diversity in leprosaria. Further, we identified a new genotype in Belarus. By doubling the number of complete ancient M. leprae genomes, our results improve our knowledge of the past phylogeography of M. leprae and reveal a particularly high M. leprae diversity in European medieval leprosaria. Conclusions: Our findings allow us to detect similar patterns of strain diversity across Europe with branch 3 as the most common branch and the leprosaria as centers for high diversity. The higher resolution of our phylogeny tree also refined our understanding of the interspecies transfer between red squirrels and humans pointing to a late antique/early medieval transmission. Furthermore, with our new estimates on the past population diversity of M. leprae, we gained first insights into the disease’s global history in relation to major historic events such as the Roman expansion or the beginning of the regular transatlantic long distance trade. In summary, our findings highlight how studying ancient M. leprae genomes worldwide improves our understanding of leprosy’s global history and can contribute to current models of M. leprae’s worldwide dissemination, including interspecies transmissions

Mycobacterium leprae diversity and population dynamics in medieval Europe from novel ancient genomes

Background Hansen’s disease (leprosy), widespread in medieval Europe, is today mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions with around 200,000 new cases reported annually. Despite its long history and appearance in historical records, its origins and past dissemination patterns are still widely unknown. Applying ancient DNA approaches to its major causative agent, Mycobacterium leprae, can significantly improve our understanding of the disease’s complex history. Previous studies have identified a high genetic continuity of the pathogen over the last 1500 years and the existence of at least four M. leprae lineages in some parts of Europe since the Early Medieval period. Results Here, we reconstructed 19 ancient M. leprae genomes to further investigate M. leprae’s genetic variation in Europe, with a dedicated focus on bacterial genomes from previously unstudied regions (Belarus, Iberia, Russia, Scotland), from multiple sites in a single region (Cambridgeshire, England), and from two Iberian leprosaria. Overall, our data confirm the existence of similar phylogeographic patterns across Europe, including high diversity in leprosaria. Further, we identified a new genotype in Belarus. By doubling the number of complete ancient M. leprae genomes, our results improve our knowledge of the past phylogeography of M. leprae and reveal a particularly high M. leprae diversity in European medieval leprosaria. Conclusions Our findings allow us to detect similar patterns of strain diversity across Europe with branch 3 as the most common branch and the leprosaria as centers for high diversity. The higher resolution of our phylogeny tree also refined our understanding of the interspecies transfer between red squirrels and humans pointing to a late antique/early medieval transmission. Furthermore, with our new estimates on the past population diversity of M. leprae, we gained first insights into the disease’s global history in relation to major historic events such as the Roman expansion or the beginning of the regular transatlantic long distance trade. In summary, our findings highlight how studying ancient M. leprae genomes worldwide improves our understanding of leprosy’s global history and can contribute to current models of M. leprae’s worldwide dissemination, including interspecies transmissions