Deep in the Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, microbiologists
have discovered close to 100 types of bacteria that can fight off antibiotic
drugs we use today. The bacteria in the
cave coat the walls, all the way down to 1,600 feet below the surface. Because
it is so deep, any water that trickles through the surface takes roughly 10
thousand years to reach the caves depths!
Even though the
cave is covered with bacteria, most of it is harmless to humans. They are completely resistant to antibiotics,
including newer synthetic drugs. These microbes will help scientists understand
how drug resistant diseases emerge.
Lechiguilla is the
deepest and largest cave system in Carlsbad. It is the seventh known longest
cave (130 miles). Until 1986, it was untouched by human activity. Hazel Barton,
a scientist from Northern Kentucky University, went in the cave and sampled
biofilms. When tested with antibiotics, these strains (known as superbugs) “can
immobilize, chew up, or block natural and synthetic antibiotic compounds.
One of the biggest
questions is which came first; Resistance or antibiotics? Were there originally
natural antibiotics deep underneath the earth and bacteria grew resistant to
it, or the other way around?
More research can help save time, and money; especially for pharmaceutical
companies. If a company wants to invest a billion dollars in researching a
single antibiotic, scientists should study and know if pathogens can build a
resistance to it.
This article was really cool, especially because it was from
a cave here in New Mexico. It was really
well written, and had input from several scientists. I didn’t have any
questions after reading it, but the audience is definitely for someone who
knows general information about microbes and bacteria.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/04/120411-drug-resistance-bacteria-caves-diseases-human-health-science/
Dillon, this article seemed really interesting because caves are an extreme environment. It is really cool that antibiotic resistant bacteria live here in New Mexico. Caves are a unique environment that host the most interesting microbes. Researchers will be able to study these microbes and try to figure out how we can outsmart antibiotic resistant bacteria. All living things including microbes are trying to survive, it is really cool that these species of bacteria are able to resist and kill antibiotics. I think that illnesses are going to become more prevalent and harder to get rid of. Scientists need to learn how to outsmart strong pathogens or we need to start taking care of our microbiomes. Our microbiomes keep us healthy on a daily basis and I think if we learn how to keep them strong they will not fail us. I think it is important to learn all we can about microbes because they are all around us.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cool article. I'm glad that our state gets mentioned for having one of the largest caves ever. It's also cool that this biofilm that has never been researched or studied on and that it can negate antibiotics. Maybe with more research, we can start making better medicine and use these new microbes to help better our understanding of pathogens and diseases.
ReplyDeleteThere's alternative hypothesis about why bacteria produce antibiotics that suggests they aren't weapons, but rather are a means of communication. This could foster cooperation instead of competition. It could be that some bacteria are trying to discourage communication and hence the resistance develops. But it's an interesting problem--why would such isolated bacteria be resistant to modern antibiotics?
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