Helicobacter pyloriin ancient human remains

Abstract

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects the stomachs of approximately 50% of all humans. With its universal occurrence, high infectivity and virulence properties it is considered as one of the most severe global burdens of modern humankind. It has accompanied humans for many thousands of years, and due to its high genetic variability and vertical transmission, its population genetics reflects the history of human migrations. However, especially complex demographic events such as the colonisation of Europe cannot be resolved with population genetic analysis of modern H. pylori strains alone. This is best exemplified with the reconstruction of the 5300-year-old H. pylori genome of the Iceman, a European Copper Age mummy. Our analysis provided precious insights into the ancestry and evolution of the pathogen and underlined the high complexity of ancient European population history. In this review we will provide an overview on the molecular analysis of H. pylori in mummified human remains that were done so far and we will outline methodological advancements in the field of ancient DNA research that support the reconstruction and authentication of ancient H. pylori genome sequences.

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori

“…11 H pylori appears to have existed in human populations for millennia, as evidenced by findings of its DNA in Peruvian mummies and other well-preserved human corpses from preh istoric times. 12,13 The genetic heterogeneity of different H pylori strains among different human populations matches the genetic heterogeneity of human populations themselves and their spread throughout the world. In other words, the migratory patterns of the human race, as traced back in time by the diversity of the human genome, is matched by similar patterns underlying the H pylori genome, suggesting that the bacterium came out of Africa together with the first humans.…”

Review: Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori

“…Finally, Maixner et al 32 reviewed available data on ancient human remains to demonstrate the presence of H pylori . While the best evidence so far is available for the European Copper Age mummy known as Iceman, other studies on the analysis of stomach tissue or stool samples in mummified materials from Chile, Mexico, Alaska, and South Korea are being discussed.…”

“…While the best evidence so far is available for the European Copper Age mummy known as Iceman, other studies on the analysis of stomach tissue or stool samples in mummified materials from Chile, Mexico, Alaska, and South Korea are being discussed. Based on these achievements, the investigators are currently collecting and analysing further ancient contents and coprolites by metagenomic diagnostic approach and genome reconstruction 32 …”

Helicobacter pylori infection causes both protective and deleterious effects in human health and disease

“…There is considerable evidence that H. pylori is an ancient bacterium as it colonized humans at least 100 000 years ago ( 15 , 16 ). Therefore, it can be used to trace human migration as a commensal bacterium and, similar to infectious agents such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human papillomavirus, H. pylori has presumably co-evolved with humans ( 17 – 21 ). H. pylori is considered a dominant member of the human gastric microbiota ( 22 , 23 ).…”