Jules Grévy takes the pulse of Marshal Macmahon, who lies sick in bed with a priest and another man; they are choking from the fumes of their burning bed; Léon Gambetta emerges from behind the scenes carrying a clyster. Coloured wood engraving, 1879.

The plague in London, 1665. Etching by A. Smith, 1810, after R. Smirke.

A selection of four lead mortuary crosses, placed on the body of a plague victim, found on the site of the old Grey Friars Monastery, Newgate Street, Lonodn (replicas)

The Loggia, Piazza del campo, Siena

The black death: map of the world, with vignettes. Watercolour by Monro S. Orr.

DNA sequence of CCR5 Delta 32 gene mutation

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Sequence of the gene CCR5 Delta 32 in acrylic paint on polyester taffeta. The CCR5 gene produces the CCR5 receptor protein which normally inserts into the cell membrane. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects human cells by attaching to 2 cell membrane proteins, CD4 and CCR5. The CCR5 Delta 32 mutation consists of a 32 base-pair deletion which introduces a premature stop signal. This results in a shorter protein with a non-functional receptor. Therefore, HIV is not able to properly attach to the CCR5 receptor and gain entry to the cell, meaning people who have the mutant gene are resistant to developing AIDs. Nearly 20% of the population in Europe has either one or two copies of the mutant gene, which has been traced back 2000 years to a single mutation amongst Vikings in Northern Europe. Those who had the mutation were protected from infection by viruses such as small pox, and survived plagues better than those with the normal CCR5 gene, which explains how the mutation has become so prevalent in a relatively short time. In 2009, scientists in Berlin reported the first, and only, individual to be cured of HIV. The treatment involved a bone marrow transplant from a donor with the CCR5 Delta 32 mutation. 



This image is a photo of 2 large banners each painted with the normal CCR5 sequence (left hand of the stripe) laid next to the CCR5 Delta 32 mutation sequence (right hand of the stripe). The four building blocks, or bases, of DNA are represented by four different colours: yellow (adenine), purple (cytosine), green (guanine) and orange (thymine). The banner on the left shows the genetic mutation in situ; the 32 base-pair deletion can be seen in the middle of the gene. The banner on the right shows the resulting gene product. The effect of the mutation can be seen clearly, indicated by the contrasting colours and the shortened (truncated) gene. The banners are around 3m in height.

1 print : etching ; border 24.5 x 14.4 cm

Medical Heritage Library

The Black death of 1348 and 1349 / by Francis Aidan Gasquet.

<p>Fifteen minute section of a programme that includes usage of pictures from the Medical Photographic Library at the Wellcome Trust.  This excerpt explains how Black Death spread across the world, from China along the sea-faring routes to Europe, carried by rats.  Venice in Italy was particularly badly hit, with one third of the population being wiped out in the space of 6 months in 1348.  Religious views of the cause of the plague are covered as well as the contents of a book written by Willhelm Lemnius (sp?) in the 16th century on precautions to take against catching the plague.</p>

1 video cassette (VHS) (15 min.) : sound, color, PAL

Medical history: antique medicine, the plague, anatomy and surgery.

128 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 25 cm

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Black Death

Images

Works

DNA sequence of CCR5 Delta 32 gene mutation

The plague in London, 1665. Etching by A. Smith, 1810, after R. Smirke.

The Black death of 1348 and 1349 / by Francis Aidan Gasquet.

Medical history: antique medicine, the plague, anatomy and surgery.

The saddest chapter / by Linda A. Rossow.

Today’s opening times

Wellcome uses cookies.

Black Death

Images

Works

DNA sequence of CCR5 Delta 32 gene mutation

The plague in London, 1665. Etching by A. Smith, 1810, after R. Smirke.

The Black death of 1348 and 1349 / by Francis Aidan Gasquet.

Medical history: antique medicine, the plague, anatomy and surgery.

The saddest chapter / by Linda A. Rossow.

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times