Palaeoimmunology

Palaeoimmunology or paleo-immunology is the analysis using histochemical techniques to look at the matrix proteins in historic and pre-historic materials.^[1] Modern immunological assays are used to detect the presence of specific antigens in the sample material.

Examples of use

Paleo-immunology encompasses a variety of immunoassays performed an a diverse array of archeological material. Examples of paleo-immunology as they appear in peer reviewed literature are as follows:

• The extraction and analysis of collagen peptides from fossilized bones.^[2]
• The use of immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical techniques in order to study the proteins of the extracellular matrix found in mummified tissues. This was done to further understand the physiologic and pathologic alterations that can occur in preserved prehistoric tissues.^[3]
• A plague dipstick assay was used to detect the presence of plague antigens in medieval french graves. This paleo-immunological assay is also know as a "rapid diagnostic test for the plague" (RDT).^[4]
• Enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) was used to detect remanent antigenic structures in preserved sauropod eggshells.^[5]

References

1. Wick, G; Kalischnig G; Maurer H; Mayerl C; Müller PU. (September 2001). "Really old - palaeoimmunology: immunohistochemical analysis of extracellular matrix proteins in historic and pre-historic material.". Experimental Gerontology. 36 (9): 1565–79. doi:10.1016/s0531-5565(01)00141-3. PMID 11525878.
2. Semal, Patrick; Orban, Rosine (1995). "Collagen Extraction from Recent and Fossil Bones: Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects". Journal of Archaeological Science. 22 (4): 463–467.
3. Wick, Georg; Kalischnig, Gerlinde; Maurer, Herbert; Mayerl, Christina; Muller, Pia Ulrike (2001). "Really old - Palaeoimmunology: Immunohistochemical analysis of extracellular matrix proteins in historic and pre-historic material". Experimental Gerontology. 36 (9): 1565–1579.
4. Kacki, Sacha; Rahalison, Lila; Rajerison, Minoarisoa; Ferroglio, Ezio; Bianucci, Raffaella (2011). "Black Death in the rural cemetery of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse Aude-Languedoc, southern France, 14th century: immunological evidence". Journal of Archaeological Science. 38 (3): 581–587.
5. Schweitzer, M. H.; Chiappe, L.; Garrido, A. C.; Lowenstein, J. M.; Pincus, S. H. (2005). "Molecular preservation in Late Cretaceous sauropod dinosaur eggshells". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 272 (1565).