Ancient Colombian skeleton reveals new syphilis strain predating known records

A 5,500-year-old syphilis strain discovered in Colombian skeleton predates known records by over 3,000 years. The ancient DNA, found in a hunter-gatherer's remains, represents a previously unknown subspecies of the syphilis-causing bacterium, offering new insights into its evolutionary history. This discovery provides a rare calibration point for understanding the deep origins of treponemal diseases, though it doesn't explain current global increases in syphilis rates.