Kirsten I. Bos
A5028053417- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Gut microbiota and health
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
2019-2024
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History
2016-2023
University of Tübingen
2012-2022
Max Planck Society
2016-2017
UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels
2014
École Pratique des Hautes Études
2012-2013
Université de Bordeaux
2012-2013
De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie
2013
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2013
McMaster University
2008-2011
The latest DNA recovery and sequencing technologies have been used to reconstruct the genome of Yersinia pestis bacterium responsible for Black Death pandemic bubonic plague that spread across Europe in fourteenth century. was pieced together from total extracted skeletal remains four individuals excavated a large cemetery on site Royal Mint East Smithfield London, where more than 2,000 victims were buried 1348 1349. draft sequence does not differ substantially modern Y. strains, providing...
Leprosy was endemic in Europe until the Middle Ages. Using DNA array capture, we have obtained genome sequences of Mycobacterium leprae from skeletons five medieval leprosy cases United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark. In one case, so well preserved that full de novo assembly ancient bacterial could be achieved through shotgun sequencing alone. The M. were compared with those 11 modern strains, representing diverse genotypes geographic origins. comparisons revealed remarkable genomic...
Although investigations of medieval plague victims have identified Yersinia pestis as the putative etiologic agent pandemic, methodological limitations prevented large-scale genomic to evaluate changes in pathogen's virulence over time. We screened 100 skeletal remains from Black Death East Smithfield mass burial site (1348-1350, London, England). Recent methods DNA enrichment coupled with high-throughput sequencing subsequently permitted reconstruction ten full human mitochondrial genomes...
Abstract The origin of Yersinia pestis and the early stages its evolution are fundamental subjects investigation given high virulence mortality that resulted from past pandemics. Although earliest evidence Y. infections in humans has been identified Late Neolithic/Bronze Age Eurasia (LNBA 5000–3500y BP), these strains lack key genetic components required for flea adaptation, thus making their mode transmission disease presentation unclear. Here, we reconstruct ancient genomes individuals...
Abstract The second plague pandemic, caused by Yersinia pestis , devastated Europe and the nearby regions between 14 th 18 centuries AD. Here we analyse human remains from ten European archaeological sites spanning this period reconstruct 34 ancient Y. genomes. Our data support an initial entry of bacterium through eastern Europe, absence genetic diversity during Black Death, low within-outbreak thereafter. Analysis post-Black Death genomes shows diversification a lineage into multiple...
Abstract The origin of the medieval Black Death pandemic ( ad 1346–1353) has been a topic continuous investigation because pandemic’s extensive demographic impact and long-lasting consequences 1,2 . Until now, most debated archaeological evidence potentially associated with initiation derives from cemeteries located near Lake Issyk-Kul modern-day Kyrgyzstan 1,3–9 These sites are thought to have housed victims fourteenth-century epidemic as tombstone inscriptions directly dated 1338–1339...
Abstract The history of the British Isles and Ireland is characterized by multiple periods major cultural change, including influential transformation after end Roman rule, which precipitated shifts in language, settlement patterns material culture 1 . extent to migration from continental Europe mediated these transitions a matter long-standing debate 2–4 Here we study genome-wide ancient DNA 460 medieval northwestern Europeans—including 278 individuals England—alongside archaeological data,...
The 14th–18th century pandemic of Yersinia pestis caused devastating disease outbreaks in Europe for almost 400 years. reasons plague’s persistence and abrupt disappearance are poorly understood, but could have been due to either the presence now-extinct plague foci itself, or successive introductions from other locations. Here we present five Y. genomes one last European plague, 1722 Marseille, France. lineage identified has not found any extant sampled date, its ancestry strains obtained...
Abstract Modern next generation sequencing technologies produce vast amounts of data in the context large-scale metagenomic studies, which complex microbial communities can be reconstructed to an unprecedented level detail. Most prominent examples are human microbiome studies that correlate bacterial taxonomic profile with specific physiological conditions or diseases. In order perform these analyses high-throughput computational tools needed able process within a short time while preserving...
In the 19th century, there were several major cholera pandemics in Indian subcontinent, Europe, and North America. The causes of these outbreaks genomic strain identities remain a mystery. We used targeted high-throughput sequencing to reconstruct Vibrio cholerae genome from preserved intestine victim 1849 outbreak Philadelphia, part second pandemic. This O1 biotype has 95 97% similarity with classical O395 genome, differing by 203 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), lacking three...
The first historically documented pandemic caused by Yersinia pestis began as the Justinianic Plague in 541 within Roman Empire and continued so-called First Pandemic until 750. Although paleogenomic studies have previously identified causative agent Y. pestis, little is known about bacterium's spread, diversity, genetic history over course of pandemic. To elucidate microevolution bacterium during this time period, we screened human remains from 21 sites Austria, Britain, Germany, France,...
The Justinianic Plague, which started in the sixth century and lasted to mid eighth century, is thought be first of three historically documented plague pandemics causing massive casualties. Historical accounts molecular data suggest bacterium Yersinia pestis as its etiological agent. Here we present a new high-coverage (17.9-fold) Y. genome obtained from sixth-century skeleton recovered southern German burial site close Munich. reconstructed enabled detection 30 unique substitutions well...
Dental calculus (calcified dental plaque) is prevalent in archaeological skeletal collections and a rich source of oral microbiome host-derived ancient biomolecules. Recently, it has been proposed that may provide more robust environment for DNA preservation than other remains, but this not systematically tested. In study, shotgun-sequenced data from paired dentin samples 48 globally distributed individuals are compared using metagenomic approach. Overall, we find consistently abundant less...
Abstract High-throughput DNA sequencing enables large-scale metagenomic analyses of complex biological systems. Such are not restricted to present-day samples and can also be applied molecular data from archaeological remains. Investigations ancient microbes provide valuable information on past bacterial commensals pathogens, but their detection remains a challenge. Here, we present HOPS (Heuristic Operations for Pathogen Screening), an automated screening pipeline sequences that provides...
Abstract Sub-fossilised remains may still contain highly degraded ancient DNA (aDNA) useful for palaeogenetic investigations. Whether X-ray computed [micro-] tomography ([μ]CT) imaging of these fossils further damage aDNA debated. Although the effect on in living organisms is well documented, its impact molecules unexplored. Here we investigate effects synchrotron irradiation from Pleistocene bones. A clear correlation appears between decreasing quantities and accumulating dose-levels above...