Bacteria extracted from 5,000-year-old ice Scalisoara Ice Cave Romania could help us in our fight. super bugnew research shows when it doesn’t come into its own.

The study, led by a team from the Romanian Academy’s Bucharest Institute of Biology (IBB), points to the untapped therapeutic potential and risks of microorganisms. stored in a cold environment For thousands of years.

Just as bacteria are constantly evolving to outwit the best treatments we can attack them with. antibiotic resistance This represents a serious challenge to public health. However, this is not a new phenomenon. This cat-and-mouse survival game is underway. for millions of years.

Extreme environments such as ice caves where this bacterium was discovered promote diversity This genetic adaptation could provide a path to improved antibiotics, or it could make the situation worse.

” Cyclobacter SC65A.3 Despite its ancient origins, the bacterial strain isolated from the Scaricioara ice cave is resistant to multiple modern antibiotics and carries over 100 resistance-related genes. ” say IBB microbiologist Cristina Purcarea.

“However, it was also able to inhibit the growth of several major antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and exhibited significant enzymatic activity with significant biotechnological potential.”

Researchers removed an ice core 25 meters (82 feet) high from part of the Scarisoara ice cave known as the Great Hole. After careful isolation of bacterial strains in ice, genome sequencing It was used to identify which genes are associated with cold survival and antibacterial activity.

The analysis revealed the following Cyclobacter SC65A.3 It can be a blessing or a curse. Sure, it could provide clues to new antibiotics, but if it’s allowed to re-emerge and spread, it could also Share drug resistance genes Along with other bacteria.

What the researchers discovered was that Cyclobacter SC65A.3 Resistant to common antibiotics used to treat lung, skin, blood, etc. common infections.

This bacterial strain is cyclobacter A genus of bacteria specially developed to survive in the cold. Although we know that some species can cause infections, there are still many unanswered questions about how these microorganisms evolved and how they can be used to improve modern antibiotics.

In the process of developing something, new antibiotics Elimination of this bacterium will not happen immediately, but in the process we will see how resistance to drugs develops and pass between seeds.

The team behind this research calls for further research into microorganisms such as: frozen in time – This gives us a window into the ancient past and, hopefully, a way to improve the future as well.

“To advance a comprehensive understanding of microbial life in cold environments, integrative research should focus on mapping their taxonomic and functional diversity, elucidating mechanisms of cold adaptation, evaluating their roles in biogeochemical cycles and climate feedback processes, and exploring new microbial taxa and functions with potential applications in biotechnology and medicine.” write The researchers state in their published paper:

Researchers are talking about the possibility that the frozen environment acts as a reservoir for resistance genes. as climate change We already know that changing a frozen environment to an unfrozen environment Thousands of tons of dormant microorganisms They come back to a world that is completely different from the one they are used to.

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That means the race is on to find ways to harness these bacteria to fight infections and diseases before they can cause harm.

Antibiotic resistance is thought to be the cause. Over 1 million deaths It is increasing every year around the world and the trend is heading in the wrong direction, but there are still signs encourage progress Too.

“As the ice melts and releases these microorganisms, these genes could spread to modern bacteria, further increasing the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.” say Purcarea.

“On the other hand, they produce unique enzymes and antimicrobial compounds that can lead to new antibiotics, industrial enzymes, and other biotechnological innovations.”

This research Frontiers of microbiology.