Paleomicrobiology: revealing fecal microbiomes of ancient indigenous cultures.

Imagen de Tasha Marie Santiago Rodriguez
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TítuloPaleomicrobiology: revealing fecal microbiomes of ancient indigenous cultures.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AutoresCano, RJ, Rivera-Perez, J, Toranzos, GA, Santiago-Rodriguez, TM, Narganes-Storde, YM, Chanlatte-Baik, L, García-Roldán, E, Bunkley-Williams, L, Massey, SE
JournalPLoS One
Volume9
Issue9
Paginatione106833
Date Published2014
ISSN1932-6203
Palabras claveDiet, feces, Humans, Microbiology, Microbiota, Paleontology, Population Groups, Puerto Rico, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Abstract

Coprolites are fossilized feces that can be used to provide information on the composition of the intestinal microbiota and, as we show, possibly on diet. We analyzed human coprolites from the Huecoid and Saladoid cultures from a settlement on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. While more is known about the Saladoid culture, it is believed that both societies co-existed on this island approximately from 5 to 1170 AD. By extracting DNA from the coprolites, followed by metagenomic characterization, we show that both cultures can be distinguished from each other on the basis of their bacterial and fungal gut microbiomes. In addition, we show that parasite loads were heavy and also culturally distinct. Huecoid coprolites were characterized by maize and Basidiomycetes sequences, suggesting that these were important components of their diet. Saladoid coprolite samples harbored sequences associated with fish parasites, suggesting that raw fish was a substantial component of their diet. The present study shows that ancient DNA is not entirely degraded in humid, tropical environments, and that dietary and/or host genetic differences in ancient populations may be reflected in the composition of their gut microbiome. This further supports the hypothesis that the two ancient cultures studied were distinct, and that they retained distinct technological/cultural differences during an extended period of close proximity and peaceful co-existence. The two populations seemed to form the later-day Taínos, the Amerindians present at the point of Columbian contact. Importantly, our data suggest that paleomicrobiomics can be a powerful tool to assess cultural differences between ancient populations.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0106833
Alternate JournalPLoS ONE
PubMed ID25207979
PubMed Central IDPMC4160228
Grant List5R25GM061151-12 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R25 GM061151 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States