Intra-individual variability in ancient plasmodium DNA recovery highlights need for enhanced sampling.

Area of Science:

• Paleogenetics
• Ancient DNA Analysis
• Malaria Research

Background:

• Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, is a significant global health issue, particularly in Africa.
• Ancient DNA (aDNA) studies offer insights into pathogen evolution, but ancient Plasmodium DNA is scarce.
• No studies have explored intra-individual variability of ancient Plasmodium falciparum DNA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic origins and intra-individual diversity of Plasmodium falciparum from the Roman period.
• To analyze ancient Plasmodium falciparum DNA from multiple samples of a single Roman individual.

Main Methods:

• Generated 39 sequencing libraries from teeth and 2 from the femur of a Roman malaria-infected individual.
• Utilized ancient DNA techniques to recover and analyze Plasmodium DNA.
• Reconstructed the Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome.

Main Results:

• Plasmodium DNA recovery varied significantly across dental samples within the individual; femur samples showed no Plasmodium DNA preservation.
• A 43-fold coverage Plasmodium falciparum mtDNA genome was successfully reconstructed.
• The findings support an Indian origin for European Plasmodium falciparum.

Conclusions:

• Ancient DNA analysis can reveal Plasmodium falciparum diversity within an individual.
• The study provides evidence for the origin of European malaria strains.
• Suggests continuity of Plasmodium falciparum mtDNA lineages in Europe for the past 2000 years.