Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex lipid virulence factors preserved in the 17,000-year-old skeleton of an extinct bison, Bison antiquus.
Tracing the evolution of ancient diseases depends on the availability and accessibility of suitable biomarkers in archaeological specimens.DNA is potentially information-rich but it depends on a favourable environment for preservation.In the case of the major mycobacterial pathogens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, robust lipid