Health and Me

Ishita Roy

5,000-Year-Old Cave Bacteria Found Resistant To Modern Antibiotics, Study Reveals

A <span>bacteria</span> which has been preserved for millennia in cave ice has now revealed to have unexpected resistance to modern antibiotics. In Romania, researchers analyzed the antibiotic resistance of a bacterial strain which was trapped for 5,000 years in the ice of an underground cave. The findings have been published in Frontiers in Microbiology. 

<h2>What Makes Bacteria So Different?</h2>

Bacteria are known for their ability to survive in some of the harshest places on Earth. They can also beat extreme heat and extreme cold temperature. Ice caves are also one such habitat that shelter diverse microbial communities and scientists have only begun to explore them for their genetic potential. 

The Romanian scientists suggested that studying such ancient microbes could help them better understand how antibiotic resistance develops naturally and potentially guide new strategies to slow its spread.

“The Psychrobacter SC65A.3 bacterial strain isolated from Scarisoara Ice Cave, despite its ancient origin, shows resistance to multiple modern antibiotics and carries over 100 resistance-related genes,” said author Dr. Cristina Purcarea, a senior scientist at the Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy. “But it can also inhibit the growth of several major antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and showed important enzymatic activities with important biotechnological potential.”

<h2>What Do They Bacteria Reveal About Antibiotic Resistance?</h2>

Psychrobacter SC65A.3 belongs to the genus Psychrobacter, a group of bacteria that thrive in extremely cold environments. While some members of this group have been known to infect humans or animals, they are also being studied for their potential in biotechnology. Despite this, scientists still know very little about how these cold-loving microbes respond to antibiotics.

According to researcher Cristina Purcarea, studying microbes like Psychrobacter SC65A.3, recovered from cave ice that is thousands of years old, helps scientists understand how antibiotic resistance developed naturally in the environment long before modern antibiotics were introduced.

To explore this further, researchers drilled a 25 meter ice core from an area of the Scarisoara Ice Cave called the Great Hall. The ice layers captured in the core date back as far as 13,000 years. The samples were carefully sealed in sterile bags and transported in frozen conditions to avoid contamination. In the laboratory, scientists isolated bacterial strains from the ice and sequenced their genomes. They looked specifically for genes linked to survival in freezing temperatures, resistance to antibiotics, and the production of antimicrobial substances.

The team then tested the SC65A strain against 28 antibiotics from 10 different classes, including medicines commonly prescribed in routine care as well as drugs reserved for severe infections. Some of these antibiotics are already associated with known resistance genes, which allowed researchers to compare what they predicted from genetic analysis with what actually happened in the lab.

They found that the strain was resistant to 10 antibiotics that are widely used in oral and injectable treatments for serious bacterial infections. These include drugs such as rifampicin, vancomycin, and ciprofloxacin, which are used to treat conditions like tuberculosis, colitis, and urinary tract infections.

SC65A.3 is the first Psychrobacter strain shown to resist antibiotics such as trimethoprim, clindamycin, and metronidazole. These medications are commonly prescribed for urinary tract infections and infections affecting the lungs, skin, bloodstream, and reproductive system. The resistance profile suggests that cold adapted bacteria may act as reservoirs of resistance genes, which are DNA segments that allow microbes to survive antibiotic exposure.

Bacterial strains like SC65A.3 present both risks and possibilities. If melting ice were to release such microbes into the environment, their resistance genes could potentially transfer to modern bacteria, worsening the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.

At the same time, these ancient bacteria also produce unique enzymes and antimicrobial compounds. Researchers believe these substances could inspire the development of new antibiotics, industrial enzymes, and other biotechnological applications.

When scientists examined the genome of Psychrobacter SC65A.3, they identified nearly 600 genes with unknown functions, pointing to a vast and largely unexplored biological resource. They also discovered 11 genes that may be capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of other bacteria, fungi, and even viruses.

As antibiotic resistance continues to rise worldwide, looking back at ancient microbial genomes may offer valuable insights. These findings highlight the important role natural environments have played in shaping the evolution and spread of resistance. At the same time, researchers stress the importance of strict laboratory safety measures to prevent any unintended release or spread of these ancient microbes.

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A bacteria which has been preserved for millennia in cave ice has now revealed to have unexpected resistance to modern antibiotics. In Romania, researchers analyzed the antibiotic resistance of a bacterial strain which was trapped for 5,000 years in the ice of an underground cave. The findings have been published in Frontiers in Microbiology. What Makes Bacteria So Different?Bacteria are known for their ability to survive in some of the harshest places on Earth. They can also beat extreme heat and extreme cold temperature. Ice caves are also one such habitat that shelter diverse microbial communities and scientists have only begun to explore them for their genetic potential. What Does The Study Reveal?The Romanian scientists suggested that studying such ancient microbes could help them better understand how antibiotic resistance develops naturally and potentially guide new strategies to slow its spread.“The Psychrobacter SC65A.3 bacterial strain isolated from Scarisoara Ice Cave, despite its ancient origin, shows resistance to multiple modern antibiotics and carries over 100 resistance-related genes,” said author Dr. Cristina Purcarea, a senior scientist at the Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy. “But it can also inhibit the growth of several major antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and showed important enzymatic activities with important biotechnological potential.”What Do They Bacteria Reveal About Antibiotic Resistance?Psychrobacter SC65A.3 belongs to the genus Psychrobacter, a group of bacteria that thrive in extremely cold environments. While some members of this group have been known to infect humans or animals, they are also being studied for their potential in biotechnology. Despite this, scientists still know very little about how these cold-loving microbes respond to antibiotics.According to researcher Cristina Purcarea, studying microbes like Psychrobacter SC65A.3, recovered from cave ice that is thousands of years old, helps scientists understand how antibiotic resistance developed naturally in the environment long before modern antibiotics were introduced.To explore this further, researchers drilled a 25 meter ice core from an area of the Scarisoara Ice Cave called the Great Hall. The ice layers captured in the core date back as far as 13,000 years. The samples were carefully sealed in sterile bags and transported in frozen conditions to avoid contamination. In the laboratory, scientists isolated bacterial strains from the ice and sequenced their genomes. They looked specifically for genes linked to survival in freezing temperatures, resistance to antibiotics, and the production of antimicrobial substances.The team then tested the SC65A strain against 28 antibiotics from 10 different classes, including medicines commonly prescribed in routine care as well as drugs reserved for severe infections. Some of these antibiotics are already associated with known resistance genes, which allowed researchers to compare what they predicted from genetic analysis with what actually happened in the lab.They found that the strain was resistant to 10 antibiotics that are widely used in oral and injectable treatments for serious bacterial infections. These include drugs such as rifampicin, vancomycin, and ciprofloxacin, which are used to treat conditions like tuberculosis, colitis, and urinary tract infections.SC65A.3 is the first Psychrobacter strain shown to resist antibiotics such as trimethoprim, clindamycin, and metronidazole. These medications are commonly prescribed for urinary tract infections and infections affecting the lungs, skin, bloodstream, and reproductive system. The resistance profile suggests that cold adapted bacteria may act as reservoirs of resistance genes, which are DNA segments that allow microbes to survive antibiotic exposure.A Threat And An OpportunityBacterial strains like SC65A.3 present both risks and possibilities. If melting ice were to release such microbes into the environment, their resistance genes could potentially transfer to modern bacteria, worsening the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.At the same time, these ancient bacteria also produce unique enzymes and antimicrobial compounds. Researchers believe these substances could inspire the development of new antibiotics, industrial enzymes, and other biotechnological applications.When scientists examined the genome of Psychrobacter SC65A.3, they identified nearly 600 genes with unknown functions, pointing to a vast and largely unexplored biological resource. They also discovered 11 genes that may be capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of other bacteria, fungi, and even viruses.As antibiotic resistance continues to rise worldwide, looking back at ancient microbial genomes may offer valuable insights. These findings highlight the important role natural environments have played in shaping the evolution and spread of resistance. At the same time, researchers stress the importance of strict laboratory safety measures to prevent any unintended release or spread of these ancient microbes.