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Treponema Pallidum

All articles tagged with #treponema pallidum

science4 hours ago•7 min saved

Ancient Treponema Genome Rewrites the History of Syphilis

Researchers reconstructed the oldest Treponema pallidum genome from a 5,500-year-old Colombian hunter-gatherer, revealing a previously unknown lineage that diverged from modern strains before subspecies formed. The discovery shows treponemal diseases circulated in the Americas long before agriculture or dense populations, suggesting hunter‑gatherer ecologies and mobility helped spread the pathogen and expanding the historical context for syphilis origins.

via SciTechDaily|

#ancient-dna #archaeology #evolution

health21 days ago•70 min saved

Uncertain source of rare syphilis case sparks diagnostic dilemma

An 83-year-old man in Belgium presented with facial palsy and systemic symptoms; weeks in hospital revealed anemia, liver abnormalities, edema, and kidney dysfunction. A positive Treponema pallidum test and elevated white blood cells in cerebrospinal fluid led to a diagnosis of secondary syphilis with early neurosyphilis—an unusual presentation with an uncertain infection source, possibly a latent infection reactivation or a recent exposure. He received penicillin therapy and improved, highlighting the diagnostic challenge in atypical syphilis cases.

via Live Science|

#case-report #health #neurosyphilis

science1 month ago•84 min saved

Ancient Colombian skeleton yields oldest Treponema genome, reshaping syphilis origins

Researchers recovered TE1-3, the oldest Treponema pallidum genome, from a 5,500-year-old skeleton in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia, pushing the bacterium’s presence in the Americas back by thousands of years and fueling the argument that syphilis may have originated in the Americas, though the exact origin and transmission routes remain unsettled.

via Live Science|

#americas-origin #ancient-dna #paleogenomics

science-and-health2 years ago•1 min saved

"Uncovering the Origins of Syphilis-Like Diseases: Ancient DNA Reveals Surprising Findings"

Researchers in Brazil have discovered the oldest known evidence of a syphilis relative in skeletons dating back 2,000 years, shedding light on the origins of the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The genetic evidence suggests that T. pallidum and T. pallidum endemicum diverged from a common ancestor about 14,000 years ago, challenging the theory that syphilis was brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus. The findings indicate that these bacteria could have traveled around the world with different human migrations much earlier than previously thought.

via Newser|

#ancient-dna #brazil #genetic-evidence

science-and-history2 years ago•3 min saved

"Medieval French Skeleton Unveils Surprising Syphilis Discovery"

A medieval French skeleton is challenging the established history of syphilis. Researchers extracted degraded DNA from a femur and identified sequences resembling T. pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis. They also found evidence of an inflammatory immune response, indicating the presence of the disease. However, some experts argue that the organism may be a subspecies related to yaws. The discovery raises questions about the origins and spread of syphilis in Europe, potentially challenging existing historical narratives. It is speculated that Christopher Columbus may have carried a more lethal variant of the disease back to Europe, as he is believed to have suffered from syphilis-like symptoms towards the end of his life.

via WIRED|

#columbus #dna-sequencing #paleoserology