Disease

Question 1

Palaeopathology

Answer 1

Study of diseases and injuries in organisms from the past

Question 2

Overview of detectig infectious disease in skeletonised remains

Answer 2

• Acute conditions archaeologically invisible
• Bone alterations/bone lesions often non-specific, non-diagnostic
• Identifying pathogen DNA, peptides, and lipids expands our ability to identify disease in past populations

Question 3

Pathogen aDNA and peptides

Answer 3

• Some archaeological remains contain the aDNA, or peptides and lipids, of pathogens
• Acute blood borne conditions
• Microbial conditions
• Oral pathogens

Question 4

Leprosy [Hansens Disease]

Answer 4

• Common in Europe in Middle Ages
• Osteological identification: pathologies may be non-diagnostic
• Can be confused with fungal infections, syphylis, noma, tuberculosis
• But, biomolecular approaches can confirm diagnosis
• Mycrobacteria has several distinct layers that contribute to antibiotic resistance and to the survival of M. Leprae DNA, lipids, and peptides

Question 5

Metabolomics

Answer 5

Metabolites: small molecules formed when an organism breaks down food, chemicals, or its own tissue