The detection of ancient DNA and lipid biomarkers has become established for the detection of tuberculosis and leprosy in archaeological material, including mummies. Recording the characteristic profiles of long-chain mycolic acids by fluorescence high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed to provide a highly specific method for the detection of ancient tuberculosis and leprosy. Initially, mycolate methylanthryl esters were analysed but these derivatives have been superseded by pyrenebutyric acid derivatives of pentafluorobenzyl esters. Long-chain compounds are released by an efficient non-aqueous alkaline extraction and acidic components are converted to stable pentafluorobenzyl esters, which can be preserved for immediate or future analysis. These long-chain components are fractionated into non-hydroxylated esters, mycolates and characteristic phthiocerols. The mycolate pyrenebutyrates are analyzed by fluorescence HPLC to produce profiles characteristic of mycobacterial disease. It is shown in this study that residual material from DNA determinations, on mainly Turkish and Hungarian skeletons, can be used for the detection of mycolic acid biomarkers for tuberculosis and leprosy. The correlation between DNA and mycolic acids biomarker results was not precise, confirming the importance of using complementary methods. In one particular Turkish skeleton, with poor DNA preservation, mycolic acid analysis supported pathological changes indicative of leprosy
