Amplification and sequencing of Trichuris trichiura ancient DNA extracted from archaeological sediments

Despite high prevalence of Trichuris trichiura infection, PCR-based analysis on T. trichiura from archaeological samples has not been established so far. In the present study, we sought to perform PCR-based amplification of T. trichiura aDNA using the sediments from medieval tomb of Korea. The presence of Trichuris eggs were first detected by microscopic observation; then confirmed by PCR-based aDNA analysis. Obtained sequence showed 100% homology to that of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSUrRNA) gene of T. trichiura but distinct from that of other Trichuris species. PCR-based aDNA analysis in this study can serve as effective method to confirm the presence of T. trichiura eggs in the soils or coprolites collected from archaeological sites.     

Ultrastructure and DNA sequence analysis of single Concentricystis cells from Alta Val Tiberina Holocene sediment

We successfully combined ultrastructure and chloroplast DNA analysis for single specimens of Concentricystis isolated from Holocene sediment by a palynology method based on filtration, progressive sieving and percoll-gradient sedimentation to concentrate fossil cells. We compared our method with the traditional harsh chemical treatment commonly used to isolate fossil pollen and spores. With our method, the cytoplasm of Concentricystis was sufficiently preserved to distinguish several cell structures by light and electron microscopy. DNA analysis of Concentricystis involved PCR amplification using specific primers for a spacer region of the chloroplast genome. Significant homologies were found with the Angiosperm chloroplast genome by BLAST DNA search for PCR product sequences.     

大理市博物馆藏木雕文殊菩萨像木材鉴定

为了确定大理市博物馆藏文殊菩萨木雕用材树种,分别采用木材解剖技术和DNA条形码技术对其进行比较鉴定。解剖比对结果显示,文殊菩萨木雕用材的微观构造特征与云南樟(Cinnamomum glanduliferum)标本接近,主要细胞形态特征与云南樟无显著差异,可初步鉴定文殊菩萨木雕用材树种隶属于樟科(Lauraceae)樟属,但不能确定为云南樟,因此通过采用DNA条形码进一步鉴定。DNA条形码比对结果表明,对于文殊菩萨木雕与云南樟标本鉴定的5个DNA条形码,rpoC1、rbcL和matK的分辨率低,只能将2种木材样品鉴定到属的级别;而trnH-GUG和psbA-trnH具有较高的分辨率,能将2种木材样品鉴定到云南樟的具体种;NJ系统发育分析结果表明,2种木材样品和所选的樟科树种可以准确聚类。DNA条形码技术可以实现大理市博物馆藏木雕文殊菩萨像木材种类的快速且准确鉴定。     

The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in ancient skeletons

The polymerase chain reaction has been used to extract ancient DNA from a wide range of different types of material. We have considered the possibility of finding residual bacterial DNA in bone that may have been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis using this technique. We propose a method of collecting samples and testing for the presence of degraded genetic material in ancient bone. The steps of the polymerase chain reaction are detailed and discussed, as are those for the preparation of the bone sample. Results obtained would suggest that this technique could have wide application in osteoarchaeological research by giving us new information on diseases of antiquity. Future avenues for the investigation of bacterial DNA in ancient bone are suggested.     

DNA in cremated bones from an early bronze age cemetery cairn

The discovery of polymeric DNA in charred wheat grains and other burnt plant remains prompted us to examine a set of cremated bones for the presence of ancient DNA. Extracts of cremated bones from an early Bronze Age cemetery cairn were analysed by hybridization probing and the polymerase chain reaction. Hybridization with two probes targeting human DNA resulted in strong positive signals. Polymerase chain reactions directed at a multicopy sequence in human nuclear DNA were successful, extracts of five burials giving amplification products of the expected size. Exploitation of ancient DNA in cremated bones could be of great value in archaeology as it may enable information pertaining to sex and kinship to be obtained from fragmented material.