Viruses in a 14th-century coprolite.
Appl Environ Microbiol
; 80(9): 2648-55, 2014 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24509925
ABSTRACT
Coprolites are fossilized fecal material that can reveal information about ancient intestinal and environmental microbiota. Viral metagenomics has allowed systematic characterization of viral diversity in environmental and human-associated specimens, but little is known about the viral diversity in fossil remains. Here, we analyzed the viral community of a 14th-century coprolite from a closed barrel in a Middle Ages site in Belgium using electron microscopy and metagenomics. Viruses that infect eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea were detected, and we confirmed the presence of some of them by ad hoc suicide PCR. The coprolite DNA viral metagenome was dominated by sequences showing homologies to phages commonly found in modern stools and soil. Although their phylogenetic compositions differed, the metabolic functions of the viral communities have remained conserved across centuries. Antibiotic resistance was one of the reconstructed metabolic functions detected.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Virus
/
Heces
/
Fósiles
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Appl Environ Microbiol
Año:
2014
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia