Arctic Microbes Offer Hope of Fighting Superbugs
Scientists have made an exciting discovery in the deep, cold waters of the Arctic Ocean. They found tiny living things, a type of microbe called actinobacteria, that might help us create new medicines to fight harmful bacteria.
A team of researchers collected samples from the Arctic ocean floor. They were looking for microbes that live in extreme conditions (extremophiles), like very cold temperatures and high pressure. The team collected over 100 samples of sediment from the ocean floor. They found many different types of microbes living in these samples, including some thought to be the oldest living species on planet Earth. Some of these microbes were previously undiscovered.
Back in their lab, the scientists grew the microbes and tested them to see if they could kill harmful bacteria. They found that many of these Arctic microbes were good at fighting against bacteria that cause serious illnesses in humans.
One type of microbe they found was especially good at killing a dangerous bacterium called MRSA. MRSA is known for being hard to treat because it can resist many common antibiotics. It is sometimes referred to as a 'Superbug'.
Why This Matters
Many of our current medicines, called antibiotics, are becoming less effective because bacteria are learning to resist them. This is a big problem for doctors trying to treat sick people. The scientists hope that these new Arctic microbes might lead to the creation of better antibiotics
The researchers are now working to understand exactly how these microbes fight bacteria. They hope to use this knowledge to create new medicines that can help people who are sick with infections that don't respond to current treatments.
Follow-up Questions
- Why is it important to find a cure for such diseases.
- MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacteria are generally found in hospital environments. Using your knowledge of evolution and natural selection, suggest a reason for this.
- How might climate change impact our ability to fight MRSA and other superbugs in the future?
- What are the potential drawbacks of discovering new species of bacteria?
- Research antibiotic resistance and suggest other ways in which we might treat resistant bacteria in the future.
- Should human activity in Antarctica be further restricted to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
- Is the potential benefit of discovering new antibiotics in polar regions worth the risk of introducing more antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
Curricular Links
- Junior Cycle Science - Diseases, Evolution, Science in Society, CBA2
- Leaving Cert Biology - Pathogens & Disease, Antibiotic Resistance, Classification: Kingdom Monera, Evolution & Natural Selection
Related Videos
