Ancient DNA Sheds Light on Evolution of Relapsing Fever Bacteria

Ancient DNA sheds light on evolution of relapsing fever bacteria

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have analyzed ancient DNA from Borrelia recurrentis, a type of bacteria that causes relapsing fever, pinpointing when it evolved to spread through lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process.

Ancient DNA used to map evolution of fever-causing bacteria

Researchers have analyzed ancient DNA from Borrelia recurrentis, a type of bacteria that causes relapsing fever, pinpointing when it evolved to spread through lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process.

Ancient Remains Show How Bacteria Chose Lice Over Ticks to Infect Humans

Understanding historical bacteria evolution could lead to better infection control in the future.

Archaeology: The ‘relapsing fever’ is a deadly disease that was initially transmitted only by ticks. The rise of woolen clothing in the…

The bacteria Borrelia recurrenceis causes recurrent fever disease and, now, a scientific team has analyzed ancient DNA from this microorganism to determine when it evolved to spread through lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process.The entry Ancient DNA reveals how a pathogen started using lice to infect humans was first published in Digital Process.

The bacterium Borrelia recurrentis causes relapsing fever, and now scientists have analyzed ancient DNA from the organism to determine when it evolved to be spread by head lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process. This transition may have coincided with changes in human lifestyles, such as closer coexistence and the start of the wool trade, conclude researchers from Britain’s Francis Crick Institute and University …