Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42469461›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2026

Ancient Mycobacterium leprae genomes reveal a potential origin and dispersal of the ancestral Branch 0.

Shuang Fu, Xingyu Lin, Ying Nie, Xue Zhao, Daxuan Zhang, Jie Zhang, Xiaoming Xiao, Zhemin Zhou, Bing Sun, Yinqiu Cui

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shuang FuKey Laboratory for Paleogenetics and Molecular Evolution of Jilin Province, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Xingyu LinDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Ying NieKey Laboratory of Archaeological Sciences and Cultural Heritage, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China.
Xue ZhaoKey Laboratory for Paleogenetics and Molecular Evolution of Jilin Province, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Daxuan ZhangKey Laboratory for Paleogenetics and Molecular Evolution of Jilin Province, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Jie ZhangXinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Ürümqi, China.
Xiaoming XiaoArchaeology and Museology School of Liaoning University, Shenyang, China.
Zhemin ZhouBiomedical Basic Research Center (BBRC) of Jiangsu, Orthopaedic Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Cancer Institute, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China. zmzhou@suda.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-9783-0366
Bing SunKey Laboratory for Paleogenetics and Molecular Evolution of Jilin Province, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China. bingsun@jlu.edu.cn.ORCID 0009-0007-3398-0171
Yinqiu CuiKey Laboratory for Paleogenetics and Molecular Evolution of Jilin Province, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China. cuiyq@jlu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-3702-5773

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 42372017National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82100076
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Although previous studies have examined numerous ancient Mycobacterium leprae genomes, the available strains remain concentrated in western Eurasia. Ancient genomes from eastern Eurasia have remained virtually unexplored, limiting our ability to reconstruct the evolutionary history of M. leprae. In this study, we report the first two ancient M. leprae genomes recovered from this region. Phylogenetic analyses place both genomes within the ancestral Branch 0, and the observed phylogeographical patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that this lineage originated in southern East Asia. Together, these findings expand the known ancient genomic diversity of M. leprae and suggest that population movements across the Tianshan region may have contributed to its wider dissemination.

Indexed as

Genome, BacterialLeprosyMycobacterium lepraeEvolution, MolecularHumansPhylogenyPhylogeography

Identifiers

PMID42469461
PMCPMC13623925

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.