Descoperire într-un manuscris din Evul Mediu. Virusul mortal care amenință de peste 3.700 de ani

Medieval manuscripts made from animal skin revealed ancient DNA of a deadly sheep virus, providing insights into historical diseases. Researchers identified traces of sheep pox in famous texts, indicating infected animals were used for parchment production. The study, led by University College Dublin, shows that parchment can preserve pathogen DNA, changing our understanding of infectious diseases. Genetic data from manuscripts and ancient sheep teeth revealed the virus has threatened livestock for over 3,700 years. Unlike human smallpox, sheep pox's genome has remained stable, and understanding its evolution may aid future control efforts.