Ancient bacteria strain discovered is resistant to some modern antibiotics
3 days ago
- #antibiotic-resistance
- #ancient-microbes
- #superbugs
- Scarisoara cave in Romania houses one of the world's largest underground glaciers, formed around 13,000 years ago.
- Scientists discovered a 5,000-year-old bacterial strain (Psychrobacter SC65A.3) resistant to 10 modern antibiotics, though it poses no threat to humans.
- Antibiotic resistance is an ancient evolutionary trait shaped by microbial competition over millions of years.
- Bacteria can share DNA, including resistance genes, even between unrelated species, leading to natural antibiotic resistance.
- Melting glaciers and ice caves due to global warming may release dormant microbes, some carrying antibiotic resistance.
- The bacterial strain also produces 11 genes that could help combat superbugs by killing or inhibiting harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
- Researchers are exploring extreme environments like ice caves for new antibiotic candidates amid rising antimicrobial resistance deaths.