Well-Preserved Bacteria Found in Byzantine-Era Skeleton

Henrike Kiesewetter of Tüebingen University found two calcified nodules below the ribs of a woman who died some 800 years ago at about 30 years of age. Kiesewetter sent the nodules to microbiologist Caitlin Pepperell of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who ruled out tuberculosis, and urinary or kidney stones, as possible diagnoses. She found well-preserved bacteria microfossils in the nodules, however, and sent them on to Hendrik Poinar of McMaster University for genetic analysis.

Poinar identified Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Gardnerella vaginalis, which may have caused a fatal infection of the placenta, amniotic fluid, and membranes around the woman’s fetus.

Pepperell explained that the high levels of calcium flowing through the pregnant woman’s body calcified the bacteria and formed the nodules.

From MicrobeWiki:

Pathology

Staphylcoccus saprophyticus is not naturally found in healthy humans. It infects humans through sexual intercourse or through contact with animals.[3] S. saprophyticus colonizes in the urinary tract of young women and men of all ages. The infection can spread to rectal and vaginal areas. [3] Alterations to the genital area effected by spermicides and candidal infection increases the susceptibility of S. saprophyticus infection. [3] Urease activity is known to be an infection causing factor in UTIs. Kidney and uretal stones are associated with S. saprophyticus infection. [3] The more severe diseases caused by infection are pyelonephritis, septicemia, nephrolithiasis, and endocarditis. [3] It was found that risk of infection increases in summer and spring months, with contact to domesticated animals (cows, sheep, pigs), and through swimming outdoors.

“The virulence factors of S. saprophyticus include adherence to urothelial cells by means of a surface-associated protein, lipoteichoic acid; a hemagglutinin that binds to fibronectin, a hemolysin; and production of extracellular slime.”[3]

Recent research has shown that S. saprophyticus is an opportunistic infection. [10]

...

G. vaginalis is a facultatively anaerobic Gram-variable rod that is involved, together with many other bacteria, mostly anaerobic, in bacterial vaginosis in some women as a result of a disruption in the normal vaginal microflora. The resident facultative anaerobic Lactobacillus population in the vagina is responsible for the acidic environment. Once the anaerobes have supplanted the normal vaginal bacteria, prescription antibiotics with anaerobic coverage may have to be given to re-establish the equilibrium of the ecosystem and allow the balance to be restored. G. vaginalis is not considered the cause of the bacterial vaginosis, but a signal organism of the altered microbial ecology associated with overgrowth of many bacterial species.[3]

While typically isolated in genital cultures, it may also be detected in other samples from blood, urine, and the pharynx. Although G. vaginalis is a major species present in bacterial vaginosis, it can also be isolated from women without any signs or symptoms of infection.

It has a Gram-positive cell wall,[4] but, because the cell wall is so thin, it can appear either Gram-positive or Gram-negative under the microscope. It is associated microscopically with clue cells, which are epithelial cells covered in bacteria.

G. vaginalis produces a pore-forming toxin, vaginolysin, which affects only human cells.[5]

Protease and sialidase enzyme activities frequently accompany G. vaginalis.[6][7][8][9]

Did anyone else ever read MicrobeWiki, or even know that it existed?

The things you learn on FR!

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.