Ancient gut microbes and glacier yeasts still thrive on Ötzi the Iceman

Scientists at Eurac Research examined a variety of samples—including surface ice, meltwater, and swabs—from Ötzi the Iceman to distinguish microorganisms present during his lifetime from later colonizers. Genetic material from intestinal tissue confirmed the presence of his original gut bacteria, which resemble rare early-human microbiomes. In addition, cold-adapted yeast species related to strains found in Antarctica were detected on skin, in meltwater, and in stomach contents, indicating they likely entered the body from the glacier and have survived for millennia.

Some yeasts may have been favored by past conservation treatments that used phenol, a compound they can metabolize. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology continues to monitor the mummy under stable conditions, while researchers note the study expands understanding of how glacial mummies preserve microbial life and may inform low-temperature industrial processes. The work appears in the journal Microbiome.