Objective

Detecting traces of ancient DNA of Vibrio cholerae to provide genetic information associated with the fifth cholera pandemic.

Materials

Sediment samples from the sacral foramina of four individuals were analyzed, recovered from a mass grave near an institution dedicated exclusively to the isolation and treatment of citizens infected with cholera in the late 19th century in the city of Cordoba, Argentina.

Methods

Paleogenetic techniques (ancient DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and Sanger sequencing) were applied. Specific primers for Vibrio cholerae (VCR, ctxA, ctxB, and tcpA) were designed.

Results

By amplifying and sequencing the Vibrio cholerae repeats fragment, the infection in at least one individual was confirmed.

Conclusions

The synthesis of the paleogenetic results with the archaeological and historical evidence strongly supports that at least one individual from the mass grave in Cordoba, Argentina, was a victim of the fifth cholera pandemic.

Significance

Confirming the presence of the disease through multiple lines of evidence, including genetic, archaeological, and historical analyses, strengthens and affirms our understanding of the presence, effects, and potential evolutionary paths of the disease in the past.

Limitations

Vibrio cholerae repeats were sequenced in one individual, while the remaining genes could not be amplified, which is likely related to gene copy number.

Suggestions for future research

Paleogenetic examination of ancient samples from different locations will broaden our understanding of the origin, evolution, and past dissemination of Vibrio cholerae epidemic strains.

中文翻译：

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在阿根廷第五次霍乱大流行（公元 1886-1887 年）的人类墓葬中检测霍乱弧菌 aDNA

客观的

检测霍乱弧菌的古代 DNA 痕迹，以提供与第五次霍乱大流行相关的遗传信息。

材料

对来自四个人骶骨孔的沉积物样本进行了分析，这些样本是从 19 世纪后期阿根廷科尔多瓦市一个专门用于隔离和治疗感染霍乱的公民的机构附近的乱葬坑中回收的。

方法

应用了古遗传学技术（古代 DNA 提取、PCR 扩增和 Sanger 测序）。设计了霍乱弧菌的特异性引物（VCR、ctxA、ctxB和tcpA）。

结果

通过对霍乱弧菌重复片段进行扩增和测序，确认了至少一个人的感染。

结论

古生物学结果与考古和历史证据的综合有力地支持，阿根廷科尔多瓦乱葬坑中至少有一个人是第五次霍乱大流行的受害者。

意义

通过多种证据（包括遗传、考古和历史分析）确认该疾病的存在，加强并肯定了我们对过去该疾病的存在、影响和潜在进化路径的理解。

限制

霍乱弧菌重复序列在一个个体中被测序，而其余基因无法扩增，这可能与基因拷贝数有关。

对未来研究的建议

对来自不同地点的古代样本进行古遗传学检查将拓宽我们对霍乱弧菌流行菌株的起源、进化和过去传播的理解。