Otzi’s Microbiome

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1037 Otzi’s Microbiome

Welcome to Medical Discovery News.  I’m Dr David Niesel. 

And I’m Dr. Norbert Herzog

Every time I write a new episode on Ötzi the iceman, I think this is it. Nope! Scientists have just completed the most comprehensive analysis of the mummy’s microbiome, adding to the bacteria, fungi and yeasts they’ve identified in more than three decades of sampling.

He’s your favorite iceman, Norbert...so I was sure we hadn’t heard the last of him! Ötzi was found over thirty years ago by hikers in the Alps when receding ice revealed his mummified body.    

Since then, he’s been kept at 21 degrees Fahrenheit, one hundred percent relative humidity in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Italy. Earlier studies show he died from an arrow wound over five thousand years ago.  

Among the microbes on Ötzi, are those that lived in his gut while he was alive, and those introduced since he was found.

They found bacteria that can live without oxygen in his gut, called anaerobes and allow us to glimpse the gut microbiome of our Copper Age ancestors. His gut bacteria match his high fat diet and snacks of dried wild meats and cereals as well as other plants.  

Some of those bacteria are rarely found today except in non-industrialized societies such as some tribes in Africa or South America.   

Sampling of yeast from Ötzi’s stomach, skin and some of the water that had melted into his body were cold adapted species suggesting they were entombed with him when he died. 

Scientists even used some of that yeast to make a tasty sourdough bread.  What’s next? An Otzi beer? Find out in future episodes of our iceman! 

We are Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog, at UTMB and Quinnipiac University, where biomedical discoveries shape the future of medicine.   For much more and our disclaimer go to medicaldiscoverynews.com or listen to our podcast on your favorite podcast service.