# Nature: Ancient genomes reveal origin and spread of malaria | Christina Warinner June 12, 2024 - [ News ](/news-categories/news) Together with an international team of scientists, Harvard researchers [Megan Michel](https://scholar.harvard.edu/megan-michel/home) (PhD student, Human Evolutionary Biology) and Professor [Christina Warinner](/people/christina-warinner) (Anthropology) reconstruct ancient genomes of the two most deadly malaria parasites, *Plasmodium vivax* and *Plasmodium falciparum*. Published in *[Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07546-2)*, the team reconstructs the evolutionary history and global spread of malaria over the past 5,500 years, identifying trade, warfare, and colonialism as major catalysts for its dispersal. Michel and Warinner worked closely together on a part of the study that revealed the malaria history of South Asia, with a focus on ancient Nepal. There they found the oldest known case of *Plasmodium falciparum* malaria infection in the high altitude tomb of a trader who lived 2,800 years ago. The trader, who was buried at the site of Chokhopani, likely contracted malaria while transporting goods between the malaria-ridden lowlands of the terai in southern Nepal and the Tibetan Plateau. Chokhopani lies along an ancient trade route connecting South Asia and the Tibetan plateau through the Kora La pass, the lowest crossing point through the Himalayan mountains. In March 2024, Michel and Warinner shared their ancient DNA findings with local universities, communities, and school groups in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. The results of their research were published to the scientific community in June 2024 in the journal *[Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07546-2)*. ![Megan Michel teaching middle school students how to extract DNA from strawberries in Pokhara, Nepal.](/sites/g/files/omnuum6776/files/anthropology/files/img_8072.jpg) *Megan Michel teaching middle school students how to extract DNA from strawberries in Pokhara, Nepal.* ![Megan Michel and Christina Warinner sharing their ancient DNA findings with community and school groups in Nepal. (Megan Michel, far left; Christina Warinner, third from right)](/sites/g/files/omnuum6776/files/anthropology/files/img_8126.jpg) *Megan Michel and Christina Warinner sharing their ancient DNA findings with community and school groups in Nepal. (Megan Michel, far left; Christina Warinner, third from right).* ![Ancient genomes reveal origin and spread of malaria - photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum6776/files/anthropology/files/chokhopani_purna_lama.jpg) Artist reconstruction of the life of CHO001, the long-distance trader analyzed in this study who suffered from malaria and was buried at the site of Chokhopani, Nepal, ca 800 BCE. The foreground depicts rich agricultural fields in the southern lowlands and terai region of Nepal, an area afflicted with endemic malaria until the 21st century. Villagers caring for people suffering from malaria fevers are depicted neighboring the fields. The region is made fertile by the waters of the Kali Gandaki River, one of Nepal's largest rivers and a tributary of the Ganges. Its headwaters lie in the northern Mustang region of Nepal, where it is fed by meltwater from the Himalayan mountains. The river's course has long served as an ancient trade route in Nepal, providing passage through the mountainous Mustang region and access to the Kora La pass, the lowest and only route passable year-round through the Himalaya mountains to the Tibetan Plateau. Along the way, villages such as Chokhopani, supplied the traders who seasonally made this dangerous journey to move goods between the lowlands of South Asia and the Tibetan plateau at the roof of the world. Chokhopani is depicted in the upper right, nestled among the cliffs in which CHO001's tomb was found, and tucked among a grove of apricot trees, whose archaeobotanical remains were identified at a nearby site. In the middle of the painting, CHO001 is depicted carrying trade goods with his family and traveling up well-worn paths towards the Kora La pass. He is surrounded by fires symbolizing the cyclical malaria fevers he is experiencing after having contracted Plasmodium falciparum at low elevation. Original artwork by Purna Lama, Boudha Stupa Thanka Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal. [Learn more](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07546-2). Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)