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5500-year-old Treponema pallidum genome found in Colombia

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Research area:medicine-clinical

What the study found

The study reports a 5500-year-old Treponema genome, called TE1-3, from Middle Holocene hunter-gatherer contexts at Tequendama I in Colombia. The authors say it is a sister lineage to all known Treponema pallidum subspecies, placing this pathogen in the Americas long before European contact.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that the finding provides molecular support for a deep history of Treponema pallidum in the Americas. They also say it broadens the known diversity of T. pallidum and extends the genomic record of treponemal pathogens by millennia.

What the researchers tested

The researchers analyzed a Treponema genome recovered from the rock shelter Tequendama I in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia. They used genomic analyses to compare TE1-3 with known Treponema pallidum subspecies and related treponemal pathogens.

What worked and what didn't

Their analyses placed TE1-3 as a sister lineage to all known T. pallidum subspecies. The genome was identified in Middle Holocene hunter-gatherer contexts, and the study says this predates the diversification of the subspecies causing syphilis, yaws, and bejel.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe detailed methodological limits or uncertainty beyond the reported genomic placement. It also does not provide information here about sample size beyond the single genome TE1-3.

Key points

  • A 5500-year-old Treponema genome was recovered from Tequendama I in Colombia.
  • The genome, TE1-3, is reported as a sister lineage to all known T. pallidum subspecies.
  • The finding places this pathogen in the Americas before European contact.
  • The authors say it predates diversification of the subspecies causing syphilis, yaws, and bejel.
  • The study says the result extends the genomic record of treponemal pathogens by millennia.

Disclosure

Research title:
5500-year-old Treponema pallidum genome found in Colombia
Authors:
Davide Bozzi, Nasreen Broomandkhoshbacht, Miguel Burbano Delgado, Jane E. Buikstra, Carlos Eduardo G. Amorim, Kalina Kassadjikova, Melissa Pratt Estrada, Gilbert Greub, Nicolás Rascovan, David Šmajs, Lars Fehren‐Schmitz, Anna‐Sapfo Malaspinas, Elizabeth A. Nelson
Institutions:
Arizona State University, Arizona State University, California State University, Northridge, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Department of Genomes & Genetics, Department of Genomes & Genetics, Fudan University, Génomique évolutive, modélisation et santé, Génomique évolutive, modélisation et santé, Institut Pasteur, Institut Pasteur, Masaryk University, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Southern Methodist University, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Université Paris Cité, Université Paris Cité, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, University of Lausanne
Publication date:
2026-01-22
DOI:
10.1126/science.adw3020
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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