Dossier
Plasmodium falciparum
Coverage of Plasmodium falciparum in the Nexus archive.
- DNA cracks centuries-old murder mystery involving one of history's most famous families
Researchers analyzed DNA from the remains of Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici and his brother Giovanni de' Medici, finding genetic traces of Plasmodium falciparum, which debunked the theory that Francesco was poisoned. The study, led by Yale University and the University of Pisa, confirmed malaria caused their deaths, aligning with historical accounts of symptoms consistent with the disease.