Suzuki Koichi, Saso Aiko, Hoshino Keigo, Sakurai Junya, Tanigawa Kazunari, Luo Yuqian, Ishido Yuko, Mori Shuichi, Hirata Kazuaki, Ishii Norihisa
Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
PLoS One. 2014 Feb 7;9(2):e88356. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088356. eCollection 2014.
The Nabe-kaburi is a unique burial method, the purpose of which is shrouded in mystery. The burials were performed during the 15(th) to 18(th) centuries in eastern Japan, and involved covering the heads of the deceased with iron pots or mortars. The identification of leprosy-specific osteological lesions among some of the excavated remains has led to the suggestion that Nabe-kaburi burials were a reflection of the social stigma against certain infectious diseases, such as leprosy, tuberculosis or syphilis. However, molecular evidence for the presence of disease has been lacking. The goal of this study was to detect Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) DNA in archaeological human skeletal remains from Nabe-kaburi burials. The paleopathological data from three Nabe-kaburi burials were re-evaluated before small samples were taken from affected and control areas. DNA was extracted and used as a template to target the M. leprae-specific DNA using a combination of whole genome amplification, PCR analysis and DNA sequencing. M. leprae DNA fragments were detected in the two sets of skeletal remains that had also shown paleopathological evidence of leprosy. These findings provide definitive evidence that some of the Nabe-kaburi burials were performed for people affected by leprosy. Demonstration of the presence of M. leprae DNA, combined with archeological and anthropological examinations, will aid in solving the mystery of why Nabe-kaburi burials were performed in medieval Japan.
锅覆葬是一种独特的埋葬方式，其目的神秘莫测。这种埋葬方式在15至18世纪的日本东部实行，做法是用铁锅或臼覆盖死者头部。在一些出土遗骸中发现了麻风病特有的骨骼病变，这使人认为锅覆葬反映了当时社会对某些传染病（如麻风病、结核病或梅毒）的污名化态度。然而，此前一直缺乏疾病存在的分子证据。本研究的目的是检测锅覆葬考古人类骨骼遗骸中的麻风分枝杆菌（M. leprae）DNA。在从患病区域和对照区域采集小样本之前，对来自三个锅覆葬的古病理学数据进行了重新评估。提取DNA并将其用作模板，通过全基因组扩增、PCR分析和DNA测序相结合的方法靶向麻风分枝杆菌特异性DNA。在两组骨骼遗骸中检测到了麻风分枝杆菌DNA片段，这些遗骸也有麻风病的古病理学证据。这些发现提供了确凿证据，证明一些锅覆葬是为麻风病患者进行的。证明麻风分枝杆菌DNA的存在，再结合考古学和人类学检查，将有助于解开中世纪日本实行锅覆葬的谜团。
