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Bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes discovered in Antarctica

May 26, 2022 15:10 GMT+7

Scientists were surprised to discover bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes in Antarctica.

Andres Marcoleta, University of Chile, who led the study shared the shocking results after a long time working with colleagues. His research team discovered bacteria contain genes that are resistant to natural antibiotics.

Bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes discovered in Antarctica
Bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes discovered in Antarctica

These ‘superpowers’ evolved to withstand extreme conditions, says Andres Marcoleta. Genes are contained in mobile DNA fragments that can be easily transferred to other bacteria.

“Antarctica is one of the polar regions most affected by melting ice, which is home to a lot of bacteria. The extreme conditions constitute a potential source of genes that are resistant to antibiotics,” he said.

The researchers found that one of the major groups of bacteria in the Antarctic peninsula is the Pseudomonas bacteria, which does not cause disease but can be a source of ‘resistance genes’. Some common disinfectants such as copper, chlorine or quaternary ammonium do not nearly prevent this species of bacteria.

However, the other bacteria the team collected was Polaromonas, which can inactivate beta-lactam antibiotics, which are essential for treating infections.

Scientists from the University of Chile collected several specimens from the Antarctic peninsula between 2017 and 2019.

“It’s worth investigating further whether climate change has an impact on the emergence of infectious diseases,” said Marcoleta. “Because one of the possible scenarios in the near future is for these genes to leave the field,” Marcoleta said. from Antarctica, increasing the occurrence and promotion of infectious diseases”.

Before that, scientists had discovered a very large lake, the size of a city hidden deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. It unlocks the secrets of the 34 million-year history of this ice sheet.

The lake has a surface area of ​​370 square kilometers, making it one of the largest subglacial lakes in the world. Polar experts discovered the strange lake after three years of aerial surveys, using radar and special sensors that measure small changes in the Earth’s gravity and magnetic field.

The discovery is very important, helping scientists uncover a treasure of information about Antarctica before it falls into a cold, frozen state.

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