Teeth could be capable of preserving antibodies for hundreds of years, allowing scientists to investigate the history of infectious human diseases, a new study has found.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system as a natural response to infectious organisms like viruses and bacteria. Their job is to recognise those microbes so that the immune system can attack them and clear them from the body.antibodies extracted from 800 year-old medieval human teeth were found to be stable and still able to recognise viral proteins.
Palaeoproteomics can reach back into deep time with ancient proteins already successfully recovered and identified after preservation in 1.7-million year old dental enamel from an ancient rhinoceros and an ostrich eggshell more than 6.5 million years old. In this new study, the authors also found preliminary evidence that, like the medieval human teeth, mammoth bones nearly 40,000 years old appear to preserve stable antibodies.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Diseases and Conditions News -- ScienceDailyRead the latest research on diseases and conditions, symptoms, new treatment options and more. Updated daily.
Read more »
Patient Education and Counseling News -- ScienceDailyRead about current research on quality of life issues for patients, patient education and counseling.
Read more »
Dolphins and Whales News -- ScienceDailyWhales and dolphins. Whale songs, beaching, endangered status -- current research news on all cetaceans.
Read more »
Materials Science News -- ScienceDailyMaterials Science News and Research. Read all the latest in materials engineering, chemical engineering, and more.
Read more »
Insects (including Butterflies) News -- ScienceDailyCurrent event articles on insects and butterflies. Read about insect bites, butterfly migration, caterpillar growth, which insects are beneficial and how to deal with pests.
Read more »
Quantum Computers News -- ScienceDailyQuantum Computer Research. Read the latest news in developing quantum computers.
Read more »