Environmental Microbial Forensics and Archaeology of Past Pandemics
- Author: Antonio Fornaciari1
- Editors: Raúl J. Cano2, Gary A. Toranzos3
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VIEW AFFILIATIONS HIDE AFFILIATIONSAffiliations: 1: Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; 2: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA; 3: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Received 19 October 2016 Accepted 15 November 2016 Published 24 February 2017
- Correspondence: Antonio Fornaciari, [email protected]

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Abstract:
The development of paleomicrobiology with new molecular techniques such as metagenomics is revolutionizing our knowledge of microbial evolution in human history. The study of microbial agents that are concomitantly active in the same biological environment makes it possible to obtain a picture of the complex interrelations among the different pathogens and gives us the perspective to understand the microecosystem of ancient times. This research acts as a bridge between disciplines such as archaeology, biology, and medicine, and the development of paleomicrobiology forces archaeology to broaden and update its methods. This chapter addresses the archaeological issues related to the identification of cemeteries from epidemic catastrophes (typology of burials, stratigraphy, topography, paleodemography) and the issues related to the sampling of human remains for biomolecular analysis. Developments in the field of paleomicrobiology are described with the example of the plague. Because of its powerful interdisciplinary features, the paleomicrobiological study of Yersinia pestis is an extremely interesting field, in which paleomicrobiology, historical research, and archeology are closely related, and it has important implications for the current dynamics of epidemiology.
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Citation: Fornaciari A. 2017. Environmental Microbial Forensics and Archaeology of Past Pandemics. Microbiol Spectrum 5(1):EMF-0011-2016. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.EMF-0011-2016.




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Abstract:
The development of paleomicrobiology with new molecular techniques such as metagenomics is revolutionizing our knowledge of microbial evolution in human history. The study of microbial agents that are concomitantly active in the same biological environment makes it possible to obtain a picture of the complex interrelations among the different pathogens and gives us the perspective to understand the microecosystem of ancient times. This research acts as a bridge between disciplines such as archaeology, biology, and medicine, and the development of paleomicrobiology forces archaeology to broaden and update its methods. This chapter addresses the archaeological issues related to the identification of cemeteries from epidemic catastrophes (typology of burials, stratigraphy, topography, paleodemography) and the issues related to the sampling of human remains for biomolecular analysis. Developments in the field of paleomicrobiology are described with the example of the plague. Because of its powerful interdisciplinary features, the paleomicrobiological study of Yersinia pestis is an extremely interesting field, in which paleomicrobiology, historical research, and archeology are closely related, and it has important implications for the current dynamics of epidemiology.

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Figures

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FIGURE 1
Gaussian trend of mortality (per month and as a percentage of the total of deaths) in the plague of London of 1603 and 1625. Adapted from reference 10 , with permission.

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FIGURE 2
Issoudun, central France. Mass burial pits of the late 17th/early 18th century. Reprinted from reference 24 , with permission.

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FIGURE 3
London. Mass burial trench of the Black Death cemetery of East Smithfield (1349-1350). Photo: Museum of London.

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FIGURE 4
Alghero, Sardinia. Mass burial trench of the plague cemetery (1582-1583), courtesy of Marco Milanese.

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FIGURE 5
Alghero, Sardinia. Mass burial trench of the plague cemetery (1582-1583), with a familial group, courtesy of Marco Milanese.

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FIGURE 6
Benabbio (LU), central Italy. Cholera cemetery, southern sector (1855).

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FIGURE 7
The plague cemetery of Les Fédons (1590), Lambesc, southern France. Reprinted from reference 15 , with permission.

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FIGURE 8
Marseille. Mass grave pit of the Observance (years 1720-1721). Schematic map with the position of the bodies. Adapted from reference 10 , with permission.

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FIGURE 9
Badia Pozzeveri (LU), central Italy. Burial with lime in the cholera cemetery (1855).

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FIGURE 11
Phylogenetic tree of Yersinia pestis. Reprinted from reference 73 , with permission.
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