In a remarkable breakthrough, a recent study has unveiled the capacity of teeth to conserve antibodies over extended periods, potentially spanning centuries. This newfound capability holds the promise of empowering scientists to gain deeper insights into the historical landscape of infectious diseases.

Researchers hailing from the esteemed University of Nottingham have illuminated the enduring functionality of antibodies sourced from medieval human teeth dating back 800 years. Remarkably, these ancient antibodies have retained their effectiveness, a revelation documented in the pages of iScience this month.

Antibodies, primarily responsible for identifying antigens like viruses and bacteria within the body, showcased their remarkable longevity in this study. The medieval antibodies scrutinized within this research exhibited the ability to recognize contemporary antigens, including the Epstein-Barr virus.

Leading the charge in this groundbreaking endeavor, Professor Robert Layfield expressed his awe at this discovery through a press release. He shared, “The realization that intact, functional antibodies can be purified from skeletal remains in the archaeological record was quite astonishing. Some ancient proteins were known to be stable, but these tend to be ‘structural’ proteins such as collagens and keratins.”

Collaborating on this pioneering study, Professor Anisur Rahman from University College London added, “Antibodies are different because we are able to test whether they can still do their job of recognizing viruses or bacteria even after hundreds of years.”