A molecular portrait of maternal sepsis from Byzantine Troy

A rare glimpse into ancient maternal sepsis has been uncovered through the discovery of calcified abscesses in the remains of a Byzantine woman from Troy. These abscesses preserved ancient DNA, revealing a severe infection likely caused by chorioamnionitis, dominated by Gardnerella vaginalis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Phylogenomic analysis showed that while G. vaginalis from Troy aligns with contemporary genetic diversity, S. saprophyticus belongs to a lineage not commonly associated with human disease today, suggesting potential ecological differences in ancient human-animal interactions. This study highlights the dynamic interplay between humans and their microbial environment, providing insights into severe maternal infections in historical contexts.

Devault, A. M., Mortimer, T. D., Kitchen, A., Kiesewetter, H., Enk, J. M., Golding, G. B., Southon, J., Kuch, M., Duggan, A. T., Aylward, W., Gardner, S. N., Allen, J. E., King, A. M., Wright, G., Kuroda, M., Kato, K., Briggs, D. E., Fornaciari, G., Holmes, E. C., et al. (2017). A molecular portrait of maternal sepsis from Byzantine Troy. eLife, 6. CLOCKSS. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.20983