Emerging Pathogens The Archaeology, Ecology, and Evolution of Infectious Disease

by Greenblatt, Charles; Spigel, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780198509011
• ISBN10: 0198509014
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-10
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Many ancient diseases with a long history of afflicting mankind such as Tuberculosis and Malaria are now re-emerging. Greenblatt brings together palaeopathologists, anthropologists, molecular biologists and modern infectious disease specialists to examine this phenomenon. New techniques allow us to detect ancient pathogen DNA and other biomarkers, in effect the chemical 'signatures' of pathogens. These tools could help us develop strategies to combat modern emerging diseases. This book focuses on ancient diseases in order to bridge the gap that has for so long separated today's infectious disease specialists and the paleopathologists who describe pathology in skeletal and mummified remains. Linking these two research communities, and incorporating the views of anthropologists, medical ecologists and molecular/evolutionary biologists, will hopefully promote a better understanding of this complex but vitally important field. A more thorough knowledge of the impact of evolutionary biology on the host-parasite relationship may even enable us to coexist with these pathogenic micro-organisms. The book is intended to stimulate debate and co-operation between infectious disease specialists, medical researchers, archaeologists, anthropologists and evolutionary biologists.

Table of Contents

Contributors
Part I	1	(64)
An overview: how infection began and became disease	3	(10)
C. L. Greenblatt
Earth history, disease, and the evolution of primates	13	(12)
L. D. Martin
Bacterial symbionts of protozoa in aqueous environments---potential pathogens?	25	(14)
H.-D. Gortz
R. Michel
The microbiology of amber: a story of persistence	39	(10)
R. J. Cano
Evolution of arthropod disease vectors	49	(16)
W. C. Black IV
Part II	65	(60)
The emergence and co-evolution of human pathogens	67	(12)
J. Baum
G. Kahila Bar-Gal
The state and future of paleoepidemiology	79	(14)
M. N. Cohen
G. Crane-Kramer
Anthropological perspectives on the study of ancient disease	93	(10)
D. H. Ubelaker
Infectious processes around the dawn of civilization	103	(14)
B. Rothschild
Evolution and ancient diseases: the roles of genes, germs, and transmission modes	117	(8)
P. W. Ewald
Part III	125	(78)
The molecular taphonomy of ancient biological molecules and biomarkers of disease	127	(16)
C. D. Matheson
D. Brian
Ancient DNA can identify disease elements	143	(8)
B. Herrmann
S. Hummel
Epidemiology of infectious diseases in the past: Yersin, Koch, and the skeletons	151	(16)
O. Dutour
Y. Ardagna
M. Maczel
M. Signoli
The archaeology of enteric infection: Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli	167	(8)
J. P. Nataro
O. C. Stine
J. B. Kaper
M. M. Levine
Palaeobacteriology with special reference to pathogenic mycobacteria	175	(14)
M. Spigelman
H. D. Donoghue
Archaevirology: Characterization of the 1918 `Spanish' influenza pandemic virus	189	(14)
J. K. Taubenberger
A. H. Reid
Part IV	203	(12)
Lessons from the past	205	(10)
References	215	(32)
Index	247