Minnikin et al. 2020_New lipid biomarker data confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the Granville mummy_AeP VI
Minnikin, David E.1 – Oona y-C. Lee1 – Houdini H. T. Wu1 – Gurdyal S. Besra1 – Ian D. Bull2 – Taylor, John A.3 – Spigelman, Mark4 – Donoghue, Helen D.5
1 Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, UK;
2 Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, UK;
3 Department of Egyptology, British Museum;
4 Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Israel;
5 Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, Royal Free Campus, University College London, UK
New lipid biomarker data confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the Granville mummy
in: Hedvig Győry (ed.), Aegyptus et Pannonia VI, Acta Symposii anno 2019, Health and Life in Ancient Egypt. Mummies in Focus. Proceedings of the Conference held 27-29th August 2019, Budapest.
Budapest: The Ancient Egyptian Committee of the Hungarian-Egyptian Friendship Society (MEBT ÓEB) 2020, 39-46.
ISBN 978-615-01-0361-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71067/AePVI-2020-39-46
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Abstract:
Dating from c. 600 BC, the British Museum remnants of the mummified Lady Irtyersenu of Thebes remain from a thorough examination by Augustus Bozzi Granville almost 200 years ago. A previous investigation diagnosed the presence of tuberculosis in the remains, using biomarkers specific for tuberculosis. DNA fragments were amplified and lipids known as mycolic acids were profiled. The specificity of this diagnosis is now reinforced by the detection, in lung samples, of additional lipid biomarkers, namely mycolipenic and mycocerosic acids. A feasible scenario for the evolution of tuberculosis and its spread to the ancient Nile valley is outlined.