Ancient Parchment Reveals Historical Evolution of Destructive Sheeppox Virus
The parchment preserved viral DNA from sheep, goats and calfskin, and the genomes suggest capripoxviruses diverged up to 11,500 years ago.
- Researchers from University College Dublin identified sheeppox virus DNA within medieval manuscripts, including the 1,000-year-old York Gospels. Published in Science Advances, the study demonstrates that parchment serves as an unexpected biological archive of past livestock diseases.
- Because medieval parchment was crafted from animal hides, it preserves genetic health records from centuries ago. Combined with Bronze Age sheep teeth evidence, this allows scientists to trace the sheeppox virus back at least 3,500 years.
- Led by UCD, the international team detected viral DNA on calfskin and goatskin, suggesting potential cross-species infections or parchment production contamination. The project involved over 30 institutions, including Trinity College Dublin and Cambridge University.
- "Unlike the smallpox virus, the sheeppox virus genome was very stable over the last few millennia," concluded lead author Louis L'Hôte. These findings help experts understand how pathogens evolved to infect hosts, aiding future disease management.
- Libraries and archives worldwide may contain similar genetic traces of past animal disease outbreaks. This research suggests cultural artifacts could unlock historical insights into infectious diseases affecting Eurasian sheep herds for millennia.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Ancient parchment reveals historical evolution of destructive sheeppox virus
Some of Europe's most well-known historic manuscripts, including the York Gospels, have proven to be biological time capsules for uncovering the 3,500-year history of the sheeppox virus (SPPV).
Some of Europe’s best-known manuscripts, including the York Gospels, have become authentic “capsules of time” that allow for the reconstruction of 3,500 [...]
By finding the DNA of the ovine harpsichord in medieval parchments and the teeth of bronze-aged sheep, researchers have reconstructed the millennium history of a virus. A discovery that transforms old books into surprising health archives. The text tells the Gospels; the skin retains the memory of a disease. In the leaflets of several medieval manuscripts, an international team led by the University College Dublin has found the DNA of the virus …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
