Ancient Bacteria Thawed in Romanian Ice Cave Reveals New Antibiotic Resistance Insights

Global - Ekhbary News Agency

Ancient Bacteria Thawed in Romanian Ice Cave Reveals New Antibiotic Resistance Insights

In a scientific breakthrough poised to reshape our understanding of the fight against antibiotic resistance, a team of scientists in Romania has unearthed an ancient bacterial strain, named Psychrobacter SC65A.3, entombed in underground cave ice for approximately 5,000 years. This discovery, published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, is not merely an archaeological curiosity; it represents a potentially invaluable source of knowledge about the natural evolution of microbial resistance and offers glimpses into potential new strategies to counter the escalating public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is a grave global health challenge, with the World Health Organization estimating it was responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. Drug-resistant bacteria, or 'superbugs,' are showing an increasing ability to overcome conventional treatments, rendering once-treatable diseases deadly once more. In this context, the finding of the SC65A.3 strain from Romania's Scărişoara Ice Cave provides a unique perspective, demonstrating that resistance mechanisms evolved naturally millennia ago, long before the advent of modern antibiotics.

Researchers conducted a comprehensive study of the Psychrobacter SC65A.3 strain, a genus known for its adaptation to cold environments. The findings revealed that this ancient bacterium is resistant to 10 commonly used antibiotics out of 28 tested, spanning 10 major therapeutic classes. These include antibiotics used to treat a range of serious bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, colitis, and urinary tract infections, including rifampicin, vancomycin, and ciprofloxacin. Significantly, SC65A.3 is the first Psychrobacter strain to exhibit resistance to antibiotics like trimethoprim, clindamycin, and metronidazole, which are typically used for infections of the lungs, skin, blood, and reproductive system.

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

These findings suggest that extreme environments, such as ice caves, could serve as reservoirs of resistance genes that have the potential to spread to modern bacteria. To retrieve these samples, the team drilled an 82-foot ice core from an area of the cave known as the Great Hall. This enormous ice core represents a 13,000-year timeline, offering scientists a unique window into the history of microbial life and evolution. Ice fragments were taken in sterile bags and kept frozen to avoid contamination before being analyzed in the lab, where various bacterial strains were isolated and their genomes sequenced.

Genome sequencing was crucial for identifying which genes confer resistance and which allow this particular strain to survive in low temperatures. The Psychrobacter SC65A.3 genome revealed almost 600 genes with unknown functions, potentially holding keys to future disease treatments. Furthermore, 11 genes were identified that possess the ability to kill or stop the growth of other bacteria, fungi, and viruses, indicating immense potential for the development of novel antimicrobial compounds.

While the prospect of long-frozen viruses and bacteria being released raises concerns, particularly if melting ice were to spread these microbes and their resistance genes to modern bacteria, Dr. Purcarea emphasizes the silver lining: “On the other hand, they produce unique enzymes and antimicrobial compounds that could inspire new antibiotics, industrial enzymes, and other biotechnological innovations.” These discoveries underscore the vital role the natural environment has played in shaping the evolution of antibiotic resistance, offering invaluable lessons in our ongoing quest to safeguard public health.

Purcarea concluded, “These ancient bacteria are essential for science and medicine, but careful handling and safety measures in the lab are essential to mitigate the risk of uncontrolled spread.” As antibiotic resistance continues to grow, exploring these ancient genomes and understanding their potential not only provides hope but also underscores the urgent need for continued research and global collaboration to confront this complex threat.

Ekhbary News Agency