ANCIENT PATHOGENS

Analisi molecolare del microbioma e di malattie infettive in reperti antichi umani - dalla diagnosi basata sulla “Capture-Sequencing” alla caratterizzazione metagenomica.

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La caratterizzazione molecolare dei patogeni nei reperti antichi umani, costituisce un interessante ed innovativo campo di ricerca, contribuendo allo studio della storia e della evoluzione  delle malattie infettive. L´analisi istologica e la caratterizzazione mediante  PCR sono gli approcci diagnostici comunemente utilizzati. Le  moderne tecniche "high-throughput sequencing” permettono di analizzare il DNA antico con metodiche innovative; ad esempio e`stato sequenziato il primo genoma completo dell`agente infettivo, Yersinia pestis, responsabile della “morte nera”. Tuttavia, in paleomicrobiologia si presentano non poche difficolta´metodologiche, come problemi di amplificazione, PCR, dovuti a DNA altamente degradati o lo sviluppo di sistemi  bioinformatici per la valutazione di complessi dati metagenomici per patogeni antichi. Lo scopo di questo progetto sara´quello di migliorare l´individuazione mediante analisi del DNA  dei patogeni in reperti antichi umani. Sara´possibile ottimizzare  l´approccio diagnostico basato sull`amplificazione del DNA (PCR) grazie alla possibilita`offerta dall´EURAC, Istituto per le mummie e l` ìceman, di aver accesso ad una grande varieta´ di tessuti con possibili casi di infezione da tubercolosi, Brucellosi e malaria. Inoltre, in collaborazone con Vienna, sono in corso analisi dei dati ottenuti  dall`Iceman con appoccio  metagenomico , per definire una base informatica per la caratterizzazione de novo di patogeni , individuabili dai dataset metagenomici dei reperti antichi umani.

Publications
The 3,300-year-old Yersinia pestis genome of an ancient Egyptian mummified individual.
Maixner F, Gaul E, Mussauer A, Paladin A, Wurst C, Sarhan M, Samadelli M, Del Vesco P, Facchetti F, Posth C, Spyrou M, Zink A (2024)
Presentazione

Conference: European Meeting of the Paleopathology Association PPA | Leiden | 21.8.2024 - 24.8.2024

Das älteste Bier Österreichs nachbrauen
Eichert S, Gamon M, Heiss AG, Kowarik K, Maixner F, Reschreiter H (2023)
Articolo su rivista
Natur historisches: Magazin des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien

Ulteriori informazioni: https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/jart/prj3/nhm-resp/data/uploads/b ...

A nontuberculous mycobacterium could solve the mystery of the lady from the Franciscan church in Basel, Switzerland
Sarhan M, Wurst C, Tzankov A, Bircher AJ, Wittig H, Briellmann T, Augsburger M, Hotz G, Zink A, Maixner F (2023)
Articolo su rivista
BMC Biology

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-022-01509-7

Microscopic Evidence of Malaria Infection in Visceral Tissue from Medici Family, Italy
Maixner F, Drescher D, Boccalini G, Piombino-Mascali D, Janko M, Berens-Riha N, Kim BJ, Gamble M, Schatterny J, Morty RE, Ludwig M, Krause-Kyora B, Stark R, An HJ, Neumann J, Cipollini G, Grimm R, Kilian N, Zink A (2023)
Articolo su rivista
Emerging Infectious Diseases

https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2906.230134

The evolution of the human gut microbiome
Maixner F (2023)
Presentazione

Conference: Il ruolo dell’immunoterapia nel trattamento del melanoma e del tumore polmonare | Bolzano | 6.12.2023 - 6.12.2023

Helicobacter pylori in ancient human remains
Maixner F (2023)
Presentazione

Conference: HGSC 2023, HELICOBACTER PYLORI GENOMICS, SIGNALING AND CARCINOGENESIS | Beilngries | 2.12.2023 - 5.12.2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA extraction from mummified and skeletal human remains using Linear Polyacrylamide (LPA)
Maixner F, Jäger HY, Sarhan MS, Valverde G, Pap I, Szikossy I, Palfi G, Zink A (2022)
Presentazione

Conference: ICEPT-3, International Conference on the Evolution and Paleoepidemiology of Tuberculosis Szeged, Hungary | Szeged | 5.7.2022 - 7.7.2022

Paläogenetik
Zink A, Maixner F (2022)
Contributo in un libro
Osteologische Paläopathologie - Ein Handbuch für Anthropologen, Mediziner und Archäologen
Multidisciplinary analysis of intestinal content in ancient mummies: new insights into diet, disease, and the evolution of our gut microbiome
Zink A, Maixner F (2022)
Presentazione

Conference: 15th ISGA Congress, 5th International Conference of Evolutionary Medicine, EAA - ISGA – ICEM | Vilnius | 24.8.2022 - 27.8.2022

Microscopic evidence for malaria infection in visceral tissue of the Medici family
Maixner F, Boccalini G, Piombino-Mascali D, Janko M, Berens-Riha N, Kim BJ, Gamble M, Krause-Kyora B, Drescher D, Kilian N, Stark R, An HJ, Neumann J, Cipollini G, Grimm R, Zink A (2022)
Presentazione

Conference: 10th World Congress on Mummy Studies | Bolzano | 5.9.2022 - 9.9.2022

The post-mortem Clostridium effect in mummies
Rudbeck E, Sarhan MS, Valverde G, Wurst C, Zink A, Maixner F (2022)
Presentazione

Conference: 10th World Congress on Mummy Studies | Bolzano | 5.9.2022 - 9.9.2022

In search of TB among the members of the Hausmann family: Mycocerosic acid based TB diagnostics via HPLC-HRMS
Váradi O, Spekker O, Szikossy I, Szvák E, Rakk D, Terhes G, Pap I, Maixner F, Zink A, Vágvölgyi C, Donoghue H, Minnikin DE, Szekeres A, Pálfi G (2022)
Presentazione

Conference: 10th World Congress on Mummy Studies | Bolzano | 5.9.2022 - 9.9.2022

Reconsidering additional sources of ancient DNA
Sarhan MS, Samadelli M, Hotz G, Francken M, Zink A, Maixner F (2022)
Presentazione

Conference: 10th World Congress on Mummy Studies | Bolzano | 5.9.2022 - 9.9.2022

Linear polyacrylamide is highly efficient in precipitating and purifying environmental and ancient DNA
Maixner F, Mitterer C, Jäger HY, Sarhan MS, Valverde G, Lücker S, Piombino-Mascali D, Szikossy I, Molnár E, Pálfi G, Pap I, Cipollini G, Zink A (2022)
Articolo su rivista
Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Ulteriori informazioni: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041 ...

https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13772

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/21393

Spezifische Infektionen: Tuberkulose, Lepra und Syphilis mit spezieller Paläogenetik bei Infektionserkrankungen
Zink A, Maixner F (2022)
Contributo in un libro
Osteologische Paläopathologie - Ein Handbuch für Anthropologen, Mediziner und Archäologen
Molecular and microscopic analysis of human paleofeces from the salt mines in Hallstatt, Austria, provide precious insights into dietary habits and gut microbiome composition of Iron Age miners
Maixner F, Sarhan MS, Huang KD, Tett A, Schoenafinger A, Zingale S, Blanco-Míguez A, Manghi P, Cemper-Kiesslich J, Rosendahl W, Kusebauch U, Morrone SR, Hoopmann MR, Rota-Stabelli O, Rattei T, Moritz RL, Oeggl K, Segata N, Zink A, Reschreiter H, Kowarik K (2021)
Presentazione

Conference: ISBA9| 9TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIOMOLECULAR ARCHAEOLOGY | Toulouse : 1.6.2021 - 4.6.2021

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/18542

Recovery of ancient human- and microbial DNA from cave bones and-sediments
Sarhan M, Lehmkuhl A, Wieland G, Franken M, Zink A, Maixner F (2021)
Presentazione

Conference: Bioinformatics Virtual Coordination Network Virtual Conference| Holistic Bioinformatic Approaches used in Microbiome Research | : 7.6.2021 - 11.6.2021

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/18947

Ancient DNA diffuses from human bones to cave stones
Sarhan MS, Lehmkuhl A, Straub R, Tett A, Wieland G, Francken M, Zink A, Maixner F (2021)
Articolo su rivista
iScience

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.103397

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/20140

Ancient DNA analysis of rare genetic bone disorders
Maixner F, Gresky J, Zink A (2021)
Articolo su rivista
International Journal of Paleopathology

Ulteriori informazioni: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.04.009

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.04.009

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/17193

Verification of tuberculosis infection among Vác mummies (18th century CE, Hungary) based on lipid biomarker profiling with a new HPLC-HESI-MS approach
Váradi OA, Rakk D, Spekker O, Terhes G, Urbán E, Berthon W, Pap I, Szikossy I, Maixner F, Zink A, Vágvólgyi C, Donoghue H, Minnikin D, Szekeres A, Pálfi G (2021)
Articolo su rivista
Tuberculosis

Ulteriori informazioni: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2020.102037

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2020.102037

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/16368

Reconstruction of ancient microbial genomes from the human gut
Wibowo MC, Yang Z, Borry M, Hübner A, Huang KD, Tierney BT, Zimmerman S, Barajas-Olmos F, Contreras-Cubas C, García-Ortiz H, Martínez-Hernández A, Luber JM, Kirstahler P, Blohm T, Smiley FE, Arnold R, Ballal SA, Pamp SJ, Russ J, Maixner F, Rota-Stabelli O, Segata N, Reinhard K, Orozco L, Warinner C, Snow M, LeBlanc S, Kostic AD (2021)
Articolo su rivista
Nature

Ulteriori informazioni: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03532-0

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03532-0

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/17191

Molekulargenetischer Nachweis von Infektionserregern
Maixner F, Sarhan MS, Wurst C, Zink A (2021)
Contributo in un libro
Anna Catharina Bischoff. Die Mumie aus der Barfüsserkirche: Rekonstruktion einer Basler Frauenbiografie des 18. Jahrhunderts

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/19763

The elusive parasite: comparing macroscopic, immunological, and genomic approaches to identifying malaria in human skeletal remains from Sayala, Egypt (third to sixth centuries AD)
Loufouma Mbouaka A, Gamble M, Wurst C, Jäger HY, Maixner F, Zink A, Noedl H, Binder M (2021)
Articolo su rivista
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

Ulteriori informazioni: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-021-01350-z

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-021-01350-z

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/18186

Hallstatt miners consumed blue cheese and beer during the Iron Age and retained a non-Westernized gut microbiome until the Baroque period
Maixner F, Sarhan MS, Huang KD, Tett A, Schoenafinger A, Zingale S, Blanco-Mıguez A, Manghi P, Cemper-Kiesslich J, Rosendahl W, Kusebauch U, Morrone SR, Hoopmann MR, Rota-Stabelli O, Rattei T, Moritz RL, Oeggl K, Segata N, Zink A, Reschreiter H, Kowarik K (2021)
Articolo su rivista
Current Biology

Ulteriori informazioni: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.09.031

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.09.031

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/19190

Analysis of 1,321 Eubacterium rectale genomes from metagenomes uncovers complex phylogeographic population structures and subspecies functional adaptations
Karcher N, Pasolli E, Asnicar F, Huang K, Tett A, Manara S, Armanini F, Bain D, Duncan SH, Louis P, Zolfo M, Manghi P, Raffaetà R, Rota-Stabelli O, Collado MC, Zeller G, Falush D, Maixner F, Walker AW, Huttenhower C, Segata N (2020)
Articolo su rivista
Genome Biology

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-020-02042-y

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/14778

Lipid biomarker based verification of TB infection in mother’s and daughter’s mummified human remains (Vác Mummy Collection, 18th century, CE, Hungary)
Váradia OA, Szikossy I, Spekkera O, Rakk D, Terhes G, Urbán E, Berthon W, Pap I, Maixner F, Zink A, Vágvölgyi C, Donoghue HD, Minnikin DE, Pálfi´G, Szekeres A (2020)
Articolo su rivista
Acta Biologica Szegediensis

Ulteriori informazioni: http://abs.bibl.u-szeged.hu/index.php/abs

https://doi.org/10.14232/abs.2020.2.99-109

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/16814

The Prevotella copri complex comprises four distinct clades that are underrepresented in Westernized populations
Tett A, Huang KD, Asnicar F, Fehlner-Peach H, Pasolli E, Karcher N, Armanini F, Manghi P, Bonham K, Zolfo M, De Filippis F, Magnabosco C, Bonneau R, Lusingu R, Amuasi J, Reinhard K, Rattei T, Boulund F, Engstrand L, Zink A, Collado MC, Littman DR, Eibach D, Ercolini D, Rota-Stabelli O, Huttenhower C, Maixner F, Segata N (2019)
Articolo su rivista
Cell Host & Microbe

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2019.08.018

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/11462

Molecular Reconstruction of the Diet in Human Stool Samples
Maixner F (2019)
Articolo su rivista
mSystems

https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00634-19

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/12257

Helicobacter pylori in ancient human remains
Maixner F, Thorell K, Granehäll L, Linz B, Moodley Y, Rattei T, Engstrand L, Zink A (2019)
Articolo su rivista
World Journal of Gastroenterology

Ulteriori informazioni: https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v25/i42/6289.htm

https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v25.i42.6289

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/12256

The Iceman's Last Meal Consisted of Fat, Wild Meat, and Cereals
Maixner F, Turaev D, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Janko M, Krause-Kyora B, Hoopmann MR, Kusebauch U, Sartain M, Guerriero G, O'Sullivan N, Teasdale M, Cipollini G, Paladin A, Mattiangeli V, Samadelli M, Putzer A, Tecchiati U, Meissen J, Palazoglu M, Rausch P, Lösch S, Kim BJ, Baines JF, Gostner P, An HJ, Malfertheiner P, Egarter-Vigl E, Stark RW, Keller A, Bishop D, Wenk M, Engstrand L, Moritz RL, Bradley DG, Fiehn O, Nebel A, Oeggl K, Doble P, Franke A, Rattei T, Grimm R, Zink A (2018)
Articolo su rivista
Current Biology

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.067

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/6829

The comparative study of two extraction methods for ancient DNA: silica suspension method and ultracentrifugal concentrator method
Lee EJ, Maixner F, Zink A (2018)
Articolo su rivista
Analytical Science & Technology

https://doi.org/10.5806/AST.2018.31.2.65

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/6824

miRNAs in ancient tissue specimens of the Tyrolean Iceman
Keller A, Kreis S, Leidinger P, Maixner F, Ludwig N, Backes C, Galata V, Guerriero G, Fehlmann T, Franke A, Meder B, Zink A, Meese E (2017)
Articolo su rivista
Molecular Biology and Evolution

https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msw291

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/7334

Tuberculosis in early medieval Switzerland: osteological and molecular evidence from Courroux
Cooper C, Fellner R, Heubi O, Maixner F, Zink A, Lösch S (2016)
Articolo su rivista
Swiss Medical Weekly

https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2016.14269

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/6670

The 5300-year-old Helicobacter pylori genome of the Iceman
Maixner F, Krause-Kyora B, Turaev D, Herbig A, Hoopmann MR, Hallows JL, Kusebauch U, Vigl EE, Malfertheiner P, Megraud F, O'Sullivan N, Cipollini G, Coia V, Samadelli M, Engstrand L, Linz B, Moritz RL, Grimm R, Krause J, Nebel A, Moodley Y, Rattei T, Zink A (2016)
Articolo su rivista
Science

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad2545

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/6124

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