Biology subjects

Aron, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Aron, F..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Bronze Age Northern Eurasian Genetics in the Context of Development of Metallurgy and Siberian Ancestry

The Eurasian Bronze Age (BA) has been described as a period of substantial human migrations, the emergence of pastoralism, horse domestication, and development of metallurgy. This study focuses on individuals associated with BA metallurgical production, specifically the Seima-Turbino (ST) phenomenon ([~]2,200-1,900 BCE) associated with elaborate metal objects found across Northern Eurasia. The genetic profiles of nine ST-associated individuals vary widely ranging between ancestries maximized in individuals from the Eastern Siberian Late Neolithic/BA, and those of the Western Steppe Middle Late BA. The genetic heterogeneity observed is consistent with the current understanding of the ST metallurgical network as a transcultural phenomenon. The new data also shed light on the temporal and spatial range of an ancient Siberian genetic ancestry component, which is shared across many Uralic-speaking populations, and which we explore further via demographic modeling using additional genome-wide (2 individuals) and whole genome data (5 individuals, including a [~]30x genome) from northwestern Russia.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2023

RNA-based sensitive fungal pathogen detection

Detecting fungal pathogens, a major cause of severe systemic infections, remains challenging due to the difficulty and time-consuming nature of diagnostic methods. This delay in identification hinders targeted treatment decisions and may lead to unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. To expedite treatment initiation, one promising approach is to directly detect pathogen nucleic acids such as DNA, which is often preferred to RNA because of its inherent stability. However, a higher number of RNA molecules per cell makes RNA a more promising diagnostic target which is particularly prominent for highly expressed genes such as rRNA. Here, we investigated the utility of a minimal input-specialized reverse transcription protocol to increase diagnostic sensitivity. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that fungal rRNA detection by the minimal input protocol is drastically more sensitive compared to detection of genomic DNA even with high levels of human RNA background. This approach can detect several of the most relevant human pathogenic fungal genera, such as Aspergillus, Candida, and Fusarium and thus represents a powerful, cheap, and easily adaptable addition to currently available diagnostic assays.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Genomic and dietary transitions during the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic in Sicily

Southern Italy is a key region for understanding the agricultural transition in the Mediterranean due to its central position. We present a genomic transect for 19 prehistoric Sicilians that covers the Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic period. We find that the Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers (HGs) are a highly drifted sister lineage to Early Holocene western European HGs, whereas a quarter of the Late Mesolithic HGs ancestry is related to HGs from eastern Europe and the Near East. This indicates substantial gene flow from (south-)eastern Europe between the Early and Late Mesolithic. The Early Neolithic farmers are genetically most similar to those from the Balkan and Greece, and carry only a maximum of [~]7% ancestry from Sicilian Mesolithic HGs. Ancestry changes match changes in dietary profile and material culture, except for two individuals who may provide tentative initial evidence that HGs adopted elements of farming in Sicily. One-sentence summaryGenome-wide and isotopic data from prehistoric Sicilians reveal a pre-farming connection to (south-) eastern Europe, and tentative initial evidence that hunter-gatherers adopted some Neolithic aspects prior to near-total replacement by early farmers.

genetics↗