The plague is one of the most devastating diseases in human history, and its evolution has been a source of fascination for scientists. In a new study, researchers from the University of Adelaide have shed light on the evolution of the plague-causing pathogen Yersinia pestis, revealing insights into how the bacterium has adapted to its environment and spread around the world. The team’s findings have been published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

In their study, the researchers looked at the genomic data of Yersinia pestis, the pathogen responsible for causing plague. By analyzing the genomes of over 700 Y. pestis strains, they were able to track the bacterium’s evolution over time and space. They discovered that the plague-causing bacteria have undergone significant changes in their genetic makeup, adapting to different environments and allowing them to spread from their original source in Central Asia to Europe and beyond. The findings could provide important insights into how the pathogen has been able to survive and spread over time.

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source: Phys.org