Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in ancient human bones

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA was detected in ancient human bone specimens from three individuals with bone tuberculosis. The reliability of PCR results and the applicability of the method to skeletal remains from soil were ensured by a system of control reactions. The pathogen's DNA could not only be detected in affected bone tissue, but also in bone tissue without any tuberculous lesions. Therefore we expect that any infectious agent which is carried into bone with the bloodstream should be detectable by PCR.