Maria Lopopolo
@marialopopolo.bsky.social
Ballerina 💃 postdoctoral researcher in Paleo(meta)genomics and Evolutionary Dynamics of Infectious Diseases at Institut Pasteur, Paris- ancient bugs | infectious diseases and microbiome☠️🔍
🏠🇮🇹-->🇩🇰 🇬🇧🇨🇵
🏠🇮🇹-->🇩🇰 🇬🇧🇨🇵
Pinned
Maria Lopopolo
@marialopopolo.bsky.social
· May 29
Pre-European contact leprosy in the Americas and its current persistence
Leprosy, primarily caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is considered a disease introduced into the Americas during European colonization. However, the recent discovery of a second pathogen causing leprosy...
www.science.org
Did leprosy exist in the Americas before European invasion? Our lab #aDNA study at @institutpasteur.bsky.social supervised by @nrascovan.bsky.social in collab with @avanzich.bsky.social (CSU) finds M.lepromatosis in pre-colonial Ancestors from North and South America www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
📣📣We’ve launched a new Introduction Room on our community Element channel! Whether you’re a new or veteran member, introduce yourself, share your affiliation, and tell us about your research. Let’s connect and strengthen our community together!
matrix.to#/#Introducti...
matrix.to#/#Introducti...
Matrix - Decentralised and secure communication
You're invited to talk on Matrix. If you don't already have a client this link will help you pick one, and join the conversation. If you already have one, this link will help you join the conversation
https://matrix.to/#/#Introductions:matrix.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
📣📣We’ve launched a new Introduction Room on our community Element channel! Whether you’re a new or veteran member, introduce yourself, share your affiliation, and tell us about your research. Let’s connect and strengthen our community together!
matrix.to#/#Introducti...
matrix.to#/#Introducti...
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
🗳️🗳️Dear SPAAM community, have you voted for the SPAAM8 2026 meeting location yet?
The poll is open until Nov 22! Check Element General Room to choose your preferred option (Leipzig, Copenhagen, Stockholm, or online). Your input matters—help shape our next annual meeting!
The poll is open until Nov 22! Check Element General Room to choose your preferred option (Leipzig, Copenhagen, Stockholm, or online). Your input matters—help shape our next annual meeting!
November 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🗳️🗳️Dear SPAAM community, have you voted for the SPAAM8 2026 meeting location yet?
The poll is open until Nov 22! Check Element General Room to choose your preferred option (Leipzig, Copenhagen, Stockholm, or online). Your input matters—help shape our next annual meeting!
The poll is open until Nov 22! Check Element General Room to choose your preferred option (Leipzig, Copenhagen, Stockholm, or online). Your input matters—help shape our next annual meeting!
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Dear SPAAM Community members,
We are excited to share with you the latest SPAAM Newsletter!
Inside, you’ll find:
- updates on events and workshops
- funding/research opportunities
- latest publications
We hope you enjoy this edition!
www.spaam-community.org/assets/media...
We are excited to share with you the latest SPAAM Newsletter!
Inside, you’ll find:
- updates on events and workshops
- funding/research opportunities
- latest publications
We hope you enjoy this edition!
www.spaam-community.org/assets/media...
SPAAM Newsletter #7
Hello from the SPAAM Steering Committee!
www.spaam-community.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Dear SPAAM Community members,
We are excited to share with you the latest SPAAM Newsletter!
Inside, you’ll find:
- updates on events and workshops
- funding/research opportunities
- latest publications
We hope you enjoy this edition!
www.spaam-community.org/assets/media...
We are excited to share with you the latest SPAAM Newsletter!
Inside, you’ll find:
- updates on events and workshops
- funding/research opportunities
- latest publications
We hope you enjoy this edition!
www.spaam-community.org/assets/media...
I had a great time at the JIHS in Tokyo yesterday, presenting my work on pre-colonial M. lepromatosis-leprosy in the Americas followed by great discussions on leprosy. Thank you so much for hosting me!
September 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM
I had a great time at the JIHS in Tokyo yesterday, presenting my work on pre-colonial M. lepromatosis-leprosy in the Americas followed by great discussions on leprosy. Thank you so much for hosting me!
I am still wrapping my head around the amazing week that I had first at our @spaam-community.bsky.social conference #SPAAM7 followed by 3 days of @isba11.bsky.social in Torino.
A conference that ended with a prestigious award. I am very grateful and honoured @isbarchaeology.bsky.social
A conference that ended with a prestigious award. I am very grateful and honoured @isbarchaeology.bsky.social
September 1, 2025 at 7:29 AM
I am still wrapping my head around the amazing week that I had first at our @spaam-community.bsky.social conference #SPAAM7 followed by 3 days of @isba11.bsky.social in Torino.
A conference that ended with a prestigious award. I am very grateful and honoured @isbarchaeology.bsky.social
A conference that ended with a prestigious award. I am very grateful and honoured @isbarchaeology.bsky.social
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
An August addendum to this 🧵 on new studies documenting the presence of Mycobacterium lepromatosis in the pre-Contact Americas. @marialopopolo.bsky.social, lead author of the study in @science.org that came out in May, has won the @isba11.bsky.social Best Paper prize! bsky.app/profile/nras... Kudos!
@isba11.bsky.social
Super happy and proud for @marialopopolo.bsky.social and @avanzich.bsky.social who got the prize to the best paper at #ISBA11 in Turin.
Thanks to the jury for this honor!
Super happy and proud for @marialopopolo.bsky.social and @avanzich.bsky.social who got the prize to the best paper at #ISBA11 in Turin.
Thanks to the jury for this honor!
August 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
An August addendum to this 🧵 on new studies documenting the presence of Mycobacterium lepromatosis in the pre-Contact Americas. @marialopopolo.bsky.social, lead author of the study in @science.org that came out in May, has won the @isba11.bsky.social Best Paper prize! bsky.app/profile/nras... Kudos!
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
@isba11.bsky.social
Super happy and proud for @marialopopolo.bsky.social and @avanzich.bsky.social who got the prize to the best paper at #ISBA11 in Turin.
Thanks to the jury for this honor!
Super happy and proud for @marialopopolo.bsky.social and @avanzich.bsky.social who got the prize to the best paper at #ISBA11 in Turin.
Thanks to the jury for this honor!
August 29, 2025 at 11:39 PM
@isba11.bsky.social
Super happy and proud for @marialopopolo.bsky.social and @avanzich.bsky.social who got the prize to the best paper at #ISBA11 in Turin.
Thanks to the jury for this honor!
Super happy and proud for @marialopopolo.bsky.social and @avanzich.bsky.social who got the prize to the best paper at #ISBA11 in Turin.
Thanks to the jury for this honor!
Please help us improve #SPAAMtisch by filling out the feedback form below!
Also we are looking for new volunteers who are willing to help organising and inviting experts to give seminars. If you are interested please DM me or @bbonucci.bsky.social
Also we are looking for new volunteers who are willing to help organising and inviting experts to give seminars. If you are interested please DM me or @bbonucci.bsky.social
Dear SPAAM community, help us improve #SPAAMtisch our longest ongoing initiative!
Whether you're a regular or just joined, we want your feedback to give voice to the community!
Please fill out this form, it will take only 3 minutes.
forms.gle/XwPko88y4D1U...
Whether you're a regular or just joined, we want your feedback to give voice to the community!
Please fill out this form, it will take only 3 minutes.
forms.gle/XwPko88y4D1U...
SPAAMtisch evaluation form 2025
Give us your feedback on our SPAAMtisch initiative which runs almost every month alternating seminars and round tables
forms.gle
August 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Please help us improve #SPAAMtisch by filling out the feedback form below!
Also we are looking for new volunteers who are willing to help organising and inviting experts to give seminars. If you are interested please DM me or @bbonucci.bsky.social
Also we are looking for new volunteers who are willing to help organising and inviting experts to give seminars. If you are interested please DM me or @bbonucci.bsky.social
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
We're excited to welcome Sterling Wright as the next invited speaker at #SPAAM7!🎉
@anthbyte.bsky.social
Listen to his talk on August 26th in Turin or online!🔥
@anthbyte.bsky.social
Listen to his talk on August 26th in Turin or online!🔥
August 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM
We're excited to welcome Sterling Wright as the next invited speaker at #SPAAM7!🎉
@anthbyte.bsky.social
Listen to his talk on August 26th in Turin or online!🔥
@anthbyte.bsky.social
Listen to his talk on August 26th in Turin or online!🔥
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Help us give a warm welcome to our newest #SPAAM7 invited speaker, Keri Burge! 🙌
Catch her talk on August 26th — live in Turin or online!
Catch her talk on August 26th — live in Turin or online!
August 12, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Help us give a warm welcome to our newest #SPAAM7 invited speaker, Keri Burge! 🙌
Catch her talk on August 26th — live in Turin or online!
Catch her talk on August 26th — live in Turin or online!
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Hello SPAAM Community!
We are looking for volunteers to contribute to our SPAAM blog: www.spaam-community.org/category/blog/
If you are interested in authoring a blog post on the SPAAM website, do not hesitate to contact us at paam.community@gmail.com :)
We are looking for volunteers to contribute to our SPAAM blog: www.spaam-community.org/category/blog/
If you are interested in authoring a blog post on the SPAAM website, do not hesitate to contact us at paam.community@gmail.com :)
Blog · SPAAM Community
Standards, Precautions, and Advances in Ancient Metagenomics
www.spaam-community.org
August 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Hello SPAAM Community!
We are looking for volunteers to contribute to our SPAAM blog: www.spaam-community.org/category/blog/
If you are interested in authoring a blog post on the SPAAM website, do not hesitate to contact us at paam.community@gmail.com :)
We are looking for volunteers to contribute to our SPAAM blog: www.spaam-community.org/category/blog/
If you are interested in authoring a blog post on the SPAAM website, do not hesitate to contact us at paam.community@gmail.com :)
Don't miss our #SPAAMTisch seminar given by John Tay on "Bayesian Phylogenetic Methods for Microbial Pathogens" here is the link to follow the talk **TODAY** at **4pm CET**
Join Zoom Meeting
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/94984441034?…
Meeting ID: 949 8444 1034
Passcode: 986313
Join Zoom Meeting
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/94984441034?…
Meeting ID: 949 8444 1034
Passcode: 986313
July 15, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Don't miss our #SPAAMTisch seminar given by John Tay on "Bayesian Phylogenetic Methods for Microbial Pathogens" here is the link to follow the talk **TODAY** at **4pm CET**
Join Zoom Meeting
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/94984441034?…
Meeting ID: 949 8444 1034
Passcode: 986313
Join Zoom Meeting
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/94984441034?…
Meeting ID: 949 8444 1034
Passcode: 986313
We are live now!!! Follow our @spaam-community.bsky.social seminar series happening now! 👇
Connect to our SPAAMTisch seminar happening now on “An ancient Epstein-Barr virus genome recovered from a museum penis gourd from Papua”
Join Zoom Meeting
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/9925660351...
Meeting ID: 992 5660 3512
Passcode: 047123
Join Zoom Meeting
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/9925660351...
Meeting ID: 992 5660 3512
Passcode: 047123
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.
ut-ee.zoom.us
June 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
We are live now!!! Follow our @spaam-community.bsky.social seminar series happening now! 👇
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Nicolas Rascovan @nrascovan.bsky.social est biologiste, directeur de recherche à l'Institut Pasteur de l’équipe de Paléogénomique microbienne et dernier auteur de l'étude. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Pre-European contact leprosy in the Americas and its current persistence
Leprosy, primarily caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is considered a disease introduced into the Americas during European colonization. However, the recent discovery of a second pathogen causing leprosy...
www.science.org
June 6, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Nicolas Rascovan @nrascovan.bsky.social est biologiste, directeur de recherche à l'Institut Pasteur de l’équipe de Paléogénomique microbienne et dernier auteur de l'étude. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Thank you @spaam-community.bsky.social 🙏 a community full of amazing scientists but also dear friends who accompanied me during the journey of my PhD and from whom I've learnt a lot ✨️
#MetagenomicsMonday While it's long been assumed that leprosy came to the Americas with Europeans, new evidence shows that Mycobacterium lepromatosis, was already infecting people here long before that, rewriting the history of leprosy's origins in the New World.
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org
June 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Thank you @spaam-community.bsky.social 🙏 a community full of amazing scientists but also dear friends who accompanied me during the journey of my PhD and from whom I've learnt a lot ✨️
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
🌎🧬 Leprosy was already endemic in the Americas for 1,000+ years BEFORE Europeans arrived. Scientists analyzed DNA from ~800 samples & found Mycobacterium lepromatosis infecting Indigenous populations centuries before colonization.
#Leprosy @marialopopolo.bsky.social @nrascovan.bsky.social
#Leprosy @marialopopolo.bsky.social @nrascovan.bsky.social
Revelations on the History of Leprosy in the Americas
Leprosy existed in America long before the arrival of Europeans: a new study reveals the history of a neglected pathogen.
www.pasteur.fr
June 3, 2025 at 8:22 AM
🌎🧬 Leprosy was already endemic in the Americas for 1,000+ years BEFORE Europeans arrived. Scientists analyzed DNA from ~800 samples & found Mycobacterium lepromatosis infecting Indigenous populations centuries before colonization.
#Leprosy @marialopopolo.bsky.social @nrascovan.bsky.social
#Leprosy @marialopopolo.bsky.social @nrascovan.bsky.social
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
And this blogpost for #WorldLeprosyDay2025 adds in the story for the "medieval" Pacific world: constantinusafricanus.com/2025/01/26/l.... With this latest work by @marialopopolo.bsky.social @nrascovan.bsky.social et al., we now have the outlines of a complete global picture. #histmed #MedievalSky
Leprosy in the Global Middle Ages: A Slow Pandemic
In August 2024, Jordan became the first country to officially eliminate leprosy.1 Countries participating in the World Health Organization (WHO)2 have committed not simply to bringing percentages o…
constantinusafricanus.com
May 30, 2025 at 10:57 AM
And this blogpost for #WorldLeprosyDay2025 adds in the story for the "medieval" Pacific world: constantinusafricanus.com/2025/01/26/l.... With this latest work by @marialopopolo.bsky.social @nrascovan.bsky.social et al., we now have the outlines of a complete global picture. #histmed #MedievalSky
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Big news in #GlobalHealthHistory today. A species of bacterium that causes leprosy, discovered in 2008 in modern patients, has been proven to have been present in the Americas well before European arrival. More details in 🧵 below: www.science.org/content/arti... #GlobalMiddleAges #histmed #aDNA 🧪
Leprosy was an American scourge long before Europeans arrived
Scientists find DNA from an enigmatic bacterium in 1000-year-old skeletons
www.science.org
May 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Big news in #GlobalHealthHistory today. A species of bacterium that causes leprosy, discovered in 2008 in modern patients, has been proven to have been present in the Americas well before European arrival. More details in 🧵 below: www.science.org/content/arti... #GlobalMiddleAges #histmed #aDNA 🧪
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Un diente reescribe la historia americana
Una gran investigación de @nrascovan.bsky.social @marialopopolo.bsky.social @avanzich.bsky.social publicada hoy en @science.org
Lo cuento en @agenciasinc.es
www.agenciasinc.es/Reportajes/U...
Una gran investigación de @nrascovan.bsky.social @marialopopolo.bsky.social @avanzich.bsky.social publicada hoy en @science.org
Lo cuento en @agenciasinc.es
www.agenciasinc.es/Reportajes/U...
Un azote antiguo: la lepra circulaba en América antes de la llegada de los europeos
En colaboración con comunidades indígenas, un equipo internacional de 40 científicos halló ADN de una de las dos bacterias responsables de esta enfermedad estigmatizante en los restos de individuos que vivieron en lo que hoy es Argentina y Canadá hace más de mil años.
www.agenciasinc.es
May 29, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Un diente reescribe la historia americana
Una gran investigación de @nrascovan.bsky.social @marialopopolo.bsky.social @avanzich.bsky.social publicada hoy en @science.org
Lo cuento en @agenciasinc.es
www.agenciasinc.es/Reportajes/U...
Una gran investigación de @nrascovan.bsky.social @marialopopolo.bsky.social @avanzich.bsky.social publicada hoy en @science.org
Lo cuento en @agenciasinc.es
www.agenciasinc.es/Reportajes/U...
Did leprosy exist in the Americas before European invasion? Our lab #aDNA study at @institutpasteur.bsky.social supervised by @nrascovan.bsky.social in collab with @avanzich.bsky.social (CSU) finds M.lepromatosis in pre-colonial Ancestors from North and South America www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Pre-European contact leprosy in the Americas and its current persistence
Leprosy, primarily caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is considered a disease introduced into the Americas during European colonization. However, the recent discovery of a second pathogen causing leprosy...
www.science.org
May 29, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Did leprosy exist in the Americas before European invasion? Our lab #aDNA study at @institutpasteur.bsky.social supervised by @nrascovan.bsky.social in collab with @avanzich.bsky.social (CSU) finds M.lepromatosis in pre-colonial Ancestors from North and South America www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
⏰ Extended deadline to submit an abstract to SPAAM7 conference. You have time till 1st of June!
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics #metagenomics #pathogens
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics #metagenomics #pathogens
Join us for SPAAM7!!
🔥🦠
🔥🦠
Great news ! 🥳 The SPAAM7 abstract submission is extended to May 18th! Submit your abstract before its too late !
Click here to submit your abstact:
forms.gle/sRcqmBft2xgW...
Click here to submit your abstact:
forms.gle/sRcqmBft2xgW...
May 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
⏰ Extended deadline to submit an abstract to SPAAM7 conference. You have time till 1st of June!
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics #metagenomics #pathogens
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics #metagenomics #pathogens
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Super excited for a summer sessions of SPAAMtisch Seminars! 🎉 On May 14 at 4pm CET (NOW LIVE!), Luis Victoria Nogales dives into early European farming via #sedaDNA🧬🪓 Do not miss this seminar and join us at this link:
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/9696197212...
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/9696197212...
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.
ut-ee.zoom.us
May 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Super excited for a summer sessions of SPAAMtisch Seminars! 🎉 On May 14 at 4pm CET (NOW LIVE!), Luis Victoria Nogales dives into early European farming via #sedaDNA🧬🪓 Do not miss this seminar and join us at this link:
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/9696197212...
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics
ut-ee.zoom.us/j/9696197212...
#aDNA #ancientmetagenomics
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Many zoonotic diseases are believed to have emerged during prehistory, but can we actually identify their past host range using ancient DNA? In the first publication of the Key Lab we present a 4000y old Yersinia pestis genome reconstructed from domesticated sheep. 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Bronze Age Yersinia pestis genome from sheep sheds light on hosts and evolution of a prehistoric plague lineage
Most human pathogens are of zoonotic origin. Many emerged during prehistory, coinciding with domestication providing more opportunities for spillover from original host species. However, we lack direc...
www.biorxiv.org
February 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Many zoonotic diseases are believed to have emerged during prehistory, but can we actually identify their past host range using ancient DNA? In the first publication of the Key Lab we present a 4000y old Yersinia pestis genome reconstructed from domesticated sheep. 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
Dear SPAAM community, please fill out this form by Jan 31 to help us gather stats & improve: forms.gle/uTKJwtEquNSD....
Reminder: Slack ends in Feb, switch to Element here matrix.to#/#spaam:arch...
Reminder: Slack ends in Feb, switch to Element here matrix.to#/#spaam:arch...
SPAAMstats
Collection of demographics for the SPAAM community to be used for the ISBA annual meeting and SPAAM-related statistic
forms.gle
January 27, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Dear SPAAM community, please fill out this form by Jan 31 to help us gather stats & improve: forms.gle/uTKJwtEquNSD....
Reminder: Slack ends in Feb, switch to Element here matrix.to#/#spaam:arch...
Reminder: Slack ends in Feb, switch to Element here matrix.to#/#spaam:arch...
Reposted by Maria Lopopolo
📢 Save the Date!
We’re thrilled to announce SPAAM7 – a global gathering of experts in ancient DNA and metagenomes research! 🌍
📅 When: 26th August 2025
📍 Where: Turin, Italy 🇮🇹 (and Zoom)
Stay tuned for more updates and registration details!
#SPAAM7 #aDNA #aeDNA #sedaDNA #ancientmetagenomics
We’re thrilled to announce SPAAM7 – a global gathering of experts in ancient DNA and metagenomes research! 🌍
📅 When: 26th August 2025
📍 Where: Turin, Italy 🇮🇹 (and Zoom)
Stay tuned for more updates and registration details!
#SPAAM7 #aDNA #aeDNA #sedaDNA #ancientmetagenomics
January 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM
📢 Save the Date!
We’re thrilled to announce SPAAM7 – a global gathering of experts in ancient DNA and metagenomes research! 🌍
📅 When: 26th August 2025
📍 Where: Turin, Italy 🇮🇹 (and Zoom)
Stay tuned for more updates and registration details!
#SPAAM7 #aDNA #aeDNA #sedaDNA #ancientmetagenomics
We’re thrilled to announce SPAAM7 – a global gathering of experts in ancient DNA and metagenomes research! 🌍
📅 When: 26th August 2025
📍 Where: Turin, Italy 🇮🇹 (and Zoom)
Stay tuned for more updates and registration details!
#SPAAM7 #aDNA #aeDNA #sedaDNA #ancientmetagenomics