(STUDY FINDS) – A gallstone taken from the mummified body of a 16th century Italian prince is providing vital clues in the battle against a notorious superbug.
Scientists have constructed the first ancient genome of E. coli – responsible for thousands of deaths around the world each year – using fragments from the preserved remains of Neapolitan nobleman Giovani d’Avalos.
The prince, who was 48 when he died in 1586, is thought to have suffered from chronic inflammation of the gallbladder due to gallstones, which have been linked to E. coli. The superbug is a major public health concern that causes approximately 265,000 illnesses across the United States each year.
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