3,000-Year-Old Syphilis Clues Unearthed in Colombia

Researchers have uncovered bacteria related to syphilis within 5,500-year-old human remains found in Colombia's Sabana de Bogotá. This significant discovery, detailed in the journal Science, potentially extends the known history of such diseases by over 3,000 years.

The team successfully reconstructed a genome of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis, from ancient DNA remnants. Notably, the genome was extracted from a shin bone, an unusual method as pathogen DNA is more commonly found in teeth or bones showing clear signs of infection. This technique proved fruitful, suggesting that bones without visible disease markers can still yield valuable pathogen DNA.

These findings strengthen the evidence that syphilis-related infections were circulating in the Americas far earlier than previously thought. While the exact origin of syphilis remains debated, this new genetic record offers a substantial glimpse into its ancient past. Further research involving more ancient genomes from diverse locations and times, coupled with studies of human immune responses and collaboration with Indigenous communities, is recommended to fully understand the disease's complex history.