LA PAZ, BOLIVIA — According to a statement released by the Eurac Research Institute for Mummy Studies, genetic material from Streptococcus pyogenes, the bacterium that causes throat infections, scarlet fever, and toxic shock syndrome, has been detected in a 700-year-old mummy from Bolivia.
The discovery, made by researchers analyzing the remains of a young individual, marks the first time this pathogen has been identified in ancient human remains from South America. The mummy was found in the Andean region and dates back to the pre-Columbian era.
Streptococcus pyogenes is a significant human pathogen responsible for a range of diseases, from mild infections to severe invasive conditions. The detection of its DNA in ancient remains provides insights into the historical prevalence and evolution of this bacterium.
The study, published in a peer-reviewed journal, highlights the potential of ancient DNA analysis to track the spread of infectious diseases across continents and centuries. Researchers emphasize that the finding does not indicate any current public health risk.
