This review article explores the transformative field of ancient pathogen genomics, which utilizes advanced biomolecular techniques to recover DNA from historical biological remains. Researchers are now able to sequence the genomes of past bacterial, viral, and eukaryotic agents, providing a rare opportunity to observe microbial evolution across millennia. These findings have clarified the origins of major historical outbreaks, such as the Black Death and smallpox, while revealing how human activities like agriculture and migration influenced disease spread. The text also examines functional genomic shifts, highlighting how pathogens adapted their virulence and transmission mechanisms over time. Despite current challenges in data dating and geographical gaps, the field offers critical perspectives for addressing modern public health threats.

References:

• Kocher, A., Krause, J. & Spyrou, M.A. Insights into infectious diseases through ancient pathogen genomics. Nat Rev Microbiol (2025). doi.org