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Paleomicrobiology

Past Human Infections

  • First book devoted to the topics of paleomicrobiology, an emerging field of research at the cross-point of microbiology, history and anthropology
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Ancient Microorganisms Bacteria

    1. Bacteria

      1. Palaeomicrobiology of Tuberculosis
        • Helen D. Donoghue
        Pages 75-97
      2. Past Leprae
        • Andreas G. Nerlich, Albert R. Zink
        Pages 99-123
      3. Past Plague
        • Didier Raoult, Michel Drancourt
        Pages 145-159
      4. Typhoid Fever Epidemic in Ancient Athens
        • Manolis J. Papagrigorakis, Christos Yapijakis, Philippos N. Synodinos
        Pages 161-173
      5. Dental Pulp as a Tool for the Retrospective Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases
        • Vu Dang La, Gerard Aboudharam, Didier Raoult, Michel Drancourt
        Pages 175-196
    2. Viruses

      1. History of Influenza Pandemics
        • Bruno Lina
        Pages 199-211
    3. Parasites

      1. Human lice: Pediculus and Pthirus
        • Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu
        Pages 215-222
  3. Back Matter

    Pages 223-226

About this book

"Paleomicrobiology – Past Human Infections" features the methods and main achievements in this emerging field of research at the intersection of microbiology and evolution, history and anthropology. New molecular approaches have already provided exciting results, such as confirmation of a single biotype of Yersinia pestis as the causative agent of historical plague pandemics, and the closer proximity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from ancient skeletons to modern strains than to Mycobacterium bovis, shedding new light on the evolution of major human pathogens and pathogen–population relationships. Firm microbiological diagnoses also provide historians and anthropologists with new data on which to base evaluation of past epidemics.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"This collection of reviews will appeal to all with an interest as to how microbes have shaped the development of present-day societies. … the authors provide a balanced overview relating case descriptions of the time to more objective findings. … This is a book for browsing and gives cause to reflect on the critical role of microbes in determining the course of western civilization." (Colin Howard, Microbiology Today, July, 2009)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Université de la Méditerranée, France

    Didier Raoult, Michel Drancourt

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Paleomicrobiology

  • Book Subtitle: Past Human Infections

  • Editors: Didier Raoult, Michel Drancourt

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75855-6

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-540-75854-9Published: 29 January 2008

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-09501-6Published: 19 October 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-540-75855-6Published: 24 January 2008

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 226

  • Topics: Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Anthropology, Archaeology

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access