New study suggests syphilis originated in the Americas

A new study suggests syphilis may have originated in the Americas. Researchers discovered a previously unknown strain of the syphilis-causing bacterium in 5,500-year-old human remains in Colombia. This finding pushes back the known timeline of infection by over 3,000 years. The bacterium was detected through metagenomic screening, even without visible disease signs on the bones. The discovery highlights the potential for finding ancient pathogens in remains where disease is not outwardly apparent, potentially revealing more about past infections.