Unraveling the Ancient Origins of Syphilis

Unveiling Ancient Secrets

For centuries, the enigmatic origins of syphilis have perplexed historians and scientists alike. The sexually transmitted infection, notorious for its devastating impact on 15th century Europe and its continued prevalence today, has long been shrouded in mystery. However, a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature has unveiled ancient secrets hidden within 2,000-year-old bones unearthed in Brazil, providing a new perspective on the origins of this complex disease.

A skeleton unearthed by researchers at Jabuticabeira II is shown.

The study, which employed paleopathology techniques, successfully recovered the earliest known genomic evidence of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis and two related diseases. Contrary to the widely held belief that syphilis originated in the Americas and later spread to Europe, the findings challenge this theory, painting a more complex picture of the disease's history.

The researchers recovered DNA from the bones of ancient humans to better understand the genetic roots of disease.

The Complex Nature of Syphilis

Syphilis, a complex bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, presents a myriad of challenges for researchers. The disease, if left untreated, can lead to physical disfigurement, blindness, and mental impairment, making it a significant public health concern. Its historical stigma and the difficulty of studying the pathogen responsible for the disease have further compounded the mystery surrounding its origins.

Molly Zuckerman, a professor and codirector of the Bioarchaeology Laboratories, New and Old World, highlighted the complexity of studying T. pallidum, noting the recent breakthrough in culturing the bacterium for the first time in 2017. Despite decades of knowledge about its role in syphilis, the pathogen remains one of the least understood bacterial infections due to its cost and complexity of study in the laboratory.

A Complex History Unearthed

The study's revelations have sparked a re-evaluation of long-standing historical theories. The timing and sudden onset of the first documented syphilis epidemic in the late 15th century led many to believe that the disease arrived in Europe following the expeditions of Christopher Columbus. However, the new study's findings challenge this narrative, suggesting that T. pallidum bacteria may have had a global distribution prior to the Columbus expeditions.

Furthermore, the genetic analysis of the Brazilian bone samples provided a bacterial family tree dating back thousands of years, indicating that T. pallidum bacteria may have first evolved to infect humans as far back as 12,000 years ago. This complexity in the disease's history challenges the simplistic narrative of Columbus's role in the spread of syphilis and opens new avenues for understanding the global distribution of the disease.