Biomolecular archaeology of ancient tuberculosis: response to "Deficiencies and challenges in the study of ancient tuberculosis DNA" by Wilbur et al. (2009)

Helen D. Donoghue; Israel Hershkovitz; David E. Minnikin; Gurdyal S. Besra; Oona Y.C. Lee; Ehud Galili; Charles L. Greenblatt; Eshetu Lemma; Mark Spigelman; Gila Kahila Bar-Gal

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.007

Biomolecular archaeology of ancient tuberculosis: response to "Deficiencies and challenges in the study of ancient tuberculosis DNA" by Wilbur et al. (2009)

Helen D. Donoghue, Israel Hershkovitz, David E. Minnikin, Gurdyal S. Besra, Oona Y.C. Lee, Ehud Galili, Charles L. Greenblatt, Eshetu Lemma, Mark Spigelman, Gila Kahila Bar-Gal

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

It is sixteen years since the first detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in archaeological specimens, yet the validity of findings continues to be questioned. Rigorous scientific scrutiny and debate is valuable and has led to a coalescence of procedures and precautions amongst those actively engaged in this work. It is disappointing that these good practices are not recognised by certain scientists whose primary expertise is in the related fields of archaeology, palaeopathology, and eukaryote ancient DNA. There is a danger that by constant repetition, disputable and inadequately justified concerns will assume the status of self-perpetuating myths and misunderstandings. We discuss these issues with reference to a recent article in this journal, in which clear peer-reviewed scientific data were specifically targeted as part of a general critique of the field of the palaeomicrobiology of tuberculosis. We believe we have given sufficient evidence and cogent argument to persuade the unbiased reader that the views in the critique by Wilbur et al. are unjustified.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2797-2804
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science
Volume	36
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.007
State	Published - Dec 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The CARE, MAFCAF and Dan David Foundation supported the archaeological and anthropological work. A grant from The Leverhulme Trust (F/125/AK) for the work on lipid biomarkers is acknowledged; DEM benefited as a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow. MS is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for a trilateral project between German, Israeli and Palestinian researchers. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of Hershkovitz et al. (2008) or this manuscript.

Keywords

Ancient DNA
Lipid biomarkers, molecular typing
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
PCR
Palaeopathology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Archaeology
Archaeology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.007

Cite this

Donoghue, H. D., Hershkovitz, I., Minnikin, D. E., Besra, G. S., Lee, O. Y. C., Galili, E., Greenblatt, C. L., Lemma, E., Spigelman, M., & Bar-Gal, G. K. (2009). Biomolecular archaeology of ancient tuberculosis: response to "Deficiencies and challenges in the study of ancient tuberculosis DNA" by Wilbur et al. (2009). Journal of Archaeological Science, 36(12), 2797-2804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.007

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title = "Biomolecular archaeology of ancient tuberculosis: response to {"}Deficiencies and challenges in the study of ancient tuberculosis DNA{"} by Wilbur et al. (2009)",

abstract = "It is sixteen years since the first detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in archaeological specimens, yet the validity of findings continues to be questioned. Rigorous scientific scrutiny and debate is valuable and has led to a coalescence of procedures and precautions amongst those actively engaged in this work. It is disappointing that these good practices are not recognised by certain scientists whose primary expertise is in the related fields of archaeology, palaeopathology, and eukaryote ancient DNA. There is a danger that by constant repetition, disputable and inadequately justified concerns will assume the status of self-perpetuating myths and misunderstandings. We discuss these issues with reference to a recent article in this journal, in which clear peer-reviewed scientific data were specifically targeted as part of a general critique of the field of the palaeomicrobiology of tuberculosis. We believe we have given sufficient evidence and cogent argument to persuade the unbiased reader that the views in the critique by Wilbur et al. are unjustified.",

keywords = "Ancient DNA, Lipid biomarkers, molecular typing, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, PCR, Palaeopathology",

author = "Donoghue, {Helen D.} and Israel Hershkovitz and Minnikin, {David E.} and Besra, {Gurdyal S.} and Lee, {Oona Y.C.} and Ehud Galili and Greenblatt, {Charles L.} and Eshetu Lemma and Mark Spigelman and Bar-Gal, {Gila Kahila}",

note = "Funding Information: The CARE, MAFCAF and Dan David Foundation supported the archaeological and anthropological work. A grant from The Leverhulme Trust (F/125/AK) for the work on lipid biomarkers is acknowledged; DEM benefited as a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow. MS is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for a trilateral project between German, Israeli and Palestinian researchers. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of Hershkovitz et al. (2008) or this manuscript. ",

year = "2009",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.007",

language = "English",

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Donoghue, HD, Hershkovitz, I, Minnikin, DE, Besra, GS, Lee, OYC, Galili, E, Greenblatt, CL, Lemma, E, Spigelman, M & Bar-Gal, GK 2009, 'Biomolecular archaeology of ancient tuberculosis: response to "Deficiencies and challenges in the study of ancient tuberculosis DNA" by Wilbur et al. (2009)', Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 36, no. 12, pp. 2797-2804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.007

Biomolecular archaeology of ancient tuberculosis: response to "Deficiencies and challenges in the study of ancient tuberculosis DNA" by Wilbur et al. (2009). / Donoghue, Helen D.; Hershkovitz, Israel; Minnikin, David E. et al.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 36, No. 12, 12.2009, p. 2797-2804.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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T2 - response to "Deficiencies and challenges in the study of ancient tuberculosis DNA" by Wilbur et al. (2009)

AU - Donoghue, Helen D.

AU - Hershkovitz, Israel

AU - Minnikin, David E.

AU - Besra, Gurdyal S.

AU - Lee, Oona Y.C.

AU - Galili, Ehud

AU - Greenblatt, Charles L.

AU - Lemma, Eshetu

AU - Spigelman, Mark

AU - Bar-Gal, Gila Kahila

N1 - Funding Information: The CARE, MAFCAF and Dan David Foundation supported the archaeological and anthropological work. A grant from The Leverhulme Trust (F/125/AK) for the work on lipid biomarkers is acknowledged; DEM benefited as a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow. MS is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for a trilateral project between German, Israeli and Palestinian researchers. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of Hershkovitz et al. (2008) or this manuscript.

PY - 2009/12

Y1 - 2009/12

N2 - It is sixteen years since the first detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in archaeological specimens, yet the validity of findings continues to be questioned. Rigorous scientific scrutiny and debate is valuable and has led to a coalescence of procedures and precautions amongst those actively engaged in this work. It is disappointing that these good practices are not recognised by certain scientists whose primary expertise is in the related fields of archaeology, palaeopathology, and eukaryote ancient DNA. There is a danger that by constant repetition, disputable and inadequately justified concerns will assume the status of self-perpetuating myths and misunderstandings. We discuss these issues with reference to a recent article in this journal, in which clear peer-reviewed scientific data were specifically targeted as part of a general critique of the field of the palaeomicrobiology of tuberculosis. We believe we have given sufficient evidence and cogent argument to persuade the unbiased reader that the views in the critique by Wilbur et al. are unjustified.

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KW - PCR

KW - Palaeopathology

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