2025/04/09 by Anaïs Augias, Gabriel Yaxal Ponce-Soto, Amélie Chimènes +2 · 2 voices
Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies #Viral-associated cancers and disorders #Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
paper · doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaf189
openalex publication_date 2025/04/09 · openalex created_date 2025/04/09 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Ancient DNA provides a unique opportunity to study the history and spread of infectious diseases. Here, we analyzed 21 samples from a collection of 20th century penis sheaths recorded as coming from Papua New Guinea, Papua (Indonesia) and Vanuatu, and housed at the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris. Despite the presence of environmental species, we identified human-associated bacteria and, notably, an Epstein-Barr virus genome at high coverage. Phylogenetic analysis placed this strain within a Papua New Guinea-Indonesian cluster. These findings highlight museum collections as valuable reservoirs of genetic data, offering historical insights into the evolution and spread of human pathogens.