Researchers at the University of Nottingham have achieved success in extracting stable antibodies from teeth dating back 800 years. This breakthrough suggests that teeth have the capacity to store antibodies over extended periods, potentially enabling the examination of historical human diseases. Antibodies, which are immune system proteins that identify and combat pathogens like viruses and bacteria, were extracted from medieval human teeth and were found to maintain their recognition of viral proteins. This discovery expands the field of palaeoproteomics, the study of ancient proteins, and could offer insights into the evolution of human antibody responses throughout history. This technique has been previously applied to analyze disease-related proteins in archaeological human bones, aiding the identification of conditions such as Paget’s disease. The researchers are hopeful that this approach could allow the examination of ancient antibodies’ reactions to diseases prevalent during their respective eras, like the Epstein-Barr virus or the Black Death. The study was published in the journal iScience on August 9, 2023.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Palaeoproteomics
What is the significance of the study on 800-year-old medieval human teeth and antibodies?
The study led by the University of Nottingham showcases that antibodies can be preserved in teeth for centuries. This breakthrough enables researchers to explore historical human diseases and antibody responses over time.
What are antibodies, and how do they function?
Antibodies are immune system proteins that identify and neutralize harmful pathogens like viruses and bacteria. They play a crucial role in defending the body against infections.
How were antibodies extracted from ancient teeth?
Researchers successfully extracted intact and functional antibodies from 800-year-old medieval human teeth. These antibodies were found to still recognize viral proteins, allowing scientists to study past immune responses.
What is palaeoproteomics?
Palaeoproteomics is the field of studying ancient proteins, including those preserved in archaeological remains. In this study, it refers to the examination of antibodies from historical teeth to gain insights into the evolution of immune responses.
Could this research lead to insights about historical diseases?
Yes, by analyzing antibodies from ancient specimens, researchers could learn about the immune responses of people in the past to diseases such as the Epstein-Barr virus or even the Black Death.
How does this study expand our knowledge?
The study broadens our understanding of palaeoproteomics by demonstrating that intact antibodies can be retrieved from skeletal remains. This has potential implications for unraveling various aspects of ancient diseases and immune systems.
What other applications does this research have?
The technique used in this research has been applied previously to study disease-related proteins in archaeological human bones. It has helped identify conditions like Paget’s disease and could be extended to other diseases and historical periods.
What is the future potential of this discovery?
This discovery paves the way for further investigations into ancient diseases and immune responses, shedding light on the health challenges our ancestors faced and how their immune systems coped.
Where was the study published?
The study titled “Preservation of whole antibodies within ancient teeth” was published in the journal iScience on August 9, 2023.
Who were the key contributors to this study?
The study was led by Professor Robert Layfield and research technician Barry Shaw from the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with Professor Anisur Rahman and Dr. Thomas McDonnell from University College London’s Department of Medicine.
More about Palaeoproteomics
- University of Nottingham: Scientists Successfully Extract Stable Antibodies From 800-Year-Old Medieval Human Teeth
- iScience Journal: Preservation of whole antibodies within ancient teeth
- University College London: Department of Medicine
- Wikipedia: Palaeoproteomics
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Antibody
10 comments
gr8 article but sum typos tho, needs proofreadin’!
wow extracting old teeth, finding ancient antibodies? so cool, science rocks!
lookin’ at stars & medieval teeth teachin’ us ’bout our past. amazin’!
wait, antibodies in teeth? who knew? gonna read more bout this!
antibodies frm teeth? thts wild. cud we cure old diseases?
thinkin’ abt those medieval peeps & their battles with viruses. intriguing!
ancient immune systems unlocked? gr8 job, scientists!
feels like sci-fi – ancient teeth, battling diseases across centuries!
ancient teeth spillin’ historical tea on diseases, spill more, plz!
could old antibodies help fight new diseases? fascinating possibility!