'TB or not TB': the conundrum of pre-European contact tuberculosis in the Pacific.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health threat, infecting one-third of the world's population. Despite this prominence, the age, origin and spread of the disease have been topics of contentious debate. Molecular studies suggest that Mycobacterium tuberculosis 'sensu stricto', the most common strain of TB infecting humans today, originated in Africa and from there spread into Europe and Asia. The M. tuberculosis strains most commonly found across the Pacific and the Americas today are most closely related to European strains, supporting a hypothesis that the disease only reached these regions relatively recently via European sailors or settlers. However, this hypothesis is inconsistent with palaeopathological evidence of TB-like lesions in human remains from across the Pacific that predate European contact. Similarly, genetic evidence from pre-European South American mummies challenges the notion of a European introduction of the disease into the Pacific. Here, we review the complex evidence for the age and origin of TB in the Pacific, and discuss key gaps in our knowledge and how these may be addressed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Insights into health and disease from ancient biomolecules'.

Light and clomazone effects on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) callus and leaf discs.

The effects of clomazone on the growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. 'NC2326') callus and leaf discs were studied under four light regimes. Callus cultures and leaf discs were grown on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with IAA and kinetin. Light regimes were: dark grown callus kept in the dark and also transferred to the light; light grown callus kept in the light and also transferred to the dark. Two-month-old callus (cultured for 2 months from initiation) grew more rapidly than twelve-month-old callus (cultured for 12 months from initiation) under all conditions tested. Callus transferred from light to dark, or from dark to light, increased in fresh weight slower than did the callus maintained totally in light or dark. Clomazone (2-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone) at 140 mg l(-1) or more was lethal to both callus and leaf discs whereas 10 mg l(-1) was stimulatory to growth. Callus tissue responded to clomazone differently depending on the light regime under which it was grown. While clomazone may be affecting the isoprenoid pathway in the callus and leaf disks resulting in growth inhibition, it is possible that other target sites are also being affected and contribute to the reduced growth.