The article “Flossing for Vaccines: A New Method to Deliver Immunizations” discusses a novel technique developed by researchers to deliver vaccines via dental floss. The method targets the junctional epithelium, a thin layer of tissue between the tooth and gum, which lacks barrier features and is more permeable than other epithelial tissues. This allows for enhanced antibody production across the body’s mucosal layers.

The researchers applied vaccine-coated floss to lab mice and compared antibody production in three different methods: via the junctional epithelium, nasal epithelium, or under the tongue. They found that applying vaccine via the junctional epithelium produced a superior antibody response on mucosal surfaces than the current gold standard for vaccinating via the oral cavity.

This technique has significant advantages beyond improved antibody response on mucosal surfaces. It is easy to administer and addresses concerns many people have about being vaccinated with needles. The researchers also believe this method should be comparable in price to other vaccine delivery techniques.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. This technique would not work on infants and toddlers who do not yet have teeth. Additionally, the approach may not be suitable for people with gum disease or other oral infections, and more research is needed to fully understand its potential benefits and limitations.

The study was published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering and was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and funds from the Whitacre Endowed Chair in Science and Engineering at Texas Tech University. The researchers are optimistic about this work and may move toward clinical trials depending on their findings.

In south-east Asia, a 4,000-year-old practice has been hidden in plain sight – the use of psychoactive plants to enhance alertness, energy, euphoria, and relaxation. The people of ancient Thailand and other parts of the region have long chewed betel nuts, which contain compounds that produce pronounced physiological effects on humans. However, this practice was thought to be lost to time, until a team of international researchers discovered evidence of its use in dental plaque from Bronze Age Thailand.

The study, published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, analyzed 36 dental calculus samples from six individuals at the Nong Ratchawat archaeological site in central Thailand. The researchers found that three of these samples contained traces of arecoline and arecaidine – organic compounds found in betel nuts and other psychoactive plants like coffee, tea, and tobacco.

“This is the earliest direct biomolecular evidence of betel nut use in south-east Asia,” said Dr Piyawit Moonkham, an anthropological archaeologist at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. “We demonstrate that dental calculus can preserve chemical signatures of psychoactive plant use for millennia, even when conventional archaeological evidence is completely absent.”

The researchers used a new method to analyze the dental plaque samples, which involved removing tiny amounts of plaque and analyzing the chemical residues found therein. They also produced betel liquid samples themselves to ensure that they could reliably detect psychoactive compounds through their analysis.

The results suggest that betel nuts were chewed as early as 4,000 years ago in Thailand. However, the absence of tooth-staining raises questions about different consumption methods or post-consumption teeth cleaning practices. While traces of betel nut chewing were found in samples from only one individual, there is currently no proof that this individual received special treatment or was of elevated social status compared to the other burials at Nong Ratchawat.

The methods used by the researchers can be applied to examine the remaining burials at Nong Ratchawat and at other sites. “Dental calculus analysis can reveal behaviors that leave no traditional archaeological traces, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of ancient lifeways and human-plant relationships,” said Dr Shannon Tushingham, the senior author of the study.

The study highlights the importance of understanding the cultural context of traditional plant use. Psychoactive, medicinal, and ceremonial plants are often dismissed as drugs, but they represent millennia of cultural knowledge, spiritual practice, and community identity. Archaeological evidence can inform contemporary discussions by honoring the deep cultural heritage behind these practices.

The Ancient Roots of Disease: Scientists Uncover 214 Prehistoric Pathogens in Human DNA

A groundbreaking study published in Nature has revealed that prehistoric humans were plagued by a staggering 214 ancient pathogens, dating back as far as 6,500 years ago. The research team, led by Professor Eske Willerslev from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Cambridge, analyzed DNA from over 1,300 prehistoric individuals, including those up to 37,000 years old.

This extensive study is the largest to date on the history of infectious diseases and sheds new light on the development of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The findings suggest that humans’ close cohabitation with domesticated animals, particularly from the Pontic Steppe, played a significant role in the spread of these ancient pathogens.

One of the most striking discoveries is the presence of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis, which was identified in a 5,500-year-old sample. This is the world’s oldest genetic trace of the disease that ravaged Europe during the Middle Ages, killing between one-quarter and one-half of the population.

The implications of this study are far-reaching and could have significant consequences for vaccine development and our understanding of how diseases arise and mutate over time.

Associate Professor Martin Sikora, the study’s first author, emphasized that “if we understand what happened in the past, it can help us prepare for the future, where many of the newly emerging infectious diseases are predicted to originate from animals.” This knowledge is crucial for developing effective vaccines and ensuring that current ones provide sufficient coverage or need to be updated due to mutations.

The study was made possible by funding from the Lundbeck Foundation. This research highlights the importance of understanding our shared history with ancient pathogens and serves as a reminder of the urgent need to develop targeted solutions for emerging infectious diseases.