Ancient Ice Bacterium Shows Modern Antibiotic Resistance

 



Scientists have identified a 5,000-year-old bacterium preserved in underground ice in Romania that can resist multiple modern antibiotics. The discovery has raised concerns about the risks posed by melting ice in a warming climate. The strain, recovered from Scărișoara Ice Cave, survived millennia in frozen isolation yet carries resistance to drugs commonly used in present-day clinical practice.

Discovery from a 25-Metre Ice Core

Researchers drilled a 25-metre ice core from the “Great Hall” of Scărișoara Ice Cave in north-west Romania. The ice represents nearly 13,000 years of accumulation. To prevent contamination, samples were handled in sterile conditions and transported frozen to laboratories for analysis. Several bacterial strains were isolated and sequenced.

The most significant was Psychrobacter SC65A.3, a cold-adapted bacterium belonging to a genus previously linked to infections in humans and animals. Despite its ancient origin, it demonstrated notable resilience to modern medicines.

Resistance to Ten Widely Used Antibiotics

Genetic analysis revealed that the strain carries more than 100 resistance-related genes. When tested against 28 antibiotics from 10 different classes used in human medicine, it proved resistant to 10. These include trimethoprim, clindamycin and metronidazole—drugs routinely prescribed for infections affecting the lungs, skin, blood, reproductive system and urinary tract.

The findings show that antibiotic resistance is not solely a product of modern overuse in hospitals or agriculture. Some resistance mechanisms evolved naturally in the environment long before the development of contemporary medicine.

Climate Change and Emerging Biological Risks

Scientists caution that ancient microbes do not automatically signal a future pandemic. However, they represent genetic reservoirs. If thawing glaciers, ice sheets or permafrost release such organisms, resistance genes could potentially transfer to modern bacteria.

A 2016 Siberian heatwave, which thawed permafrost and exposed an infected reindeer carcass, triggered an anthrax outbreak after decades of dormancy. Such incidents highlight the biological risks linked to rising global temperatures.

Scientific Value and Medical Potential

Beyond risks, the genome of Psychrobacter SC65A.3 revealed 11 genes capable of inhibiting bacteria, fungi and viruses, along with nearly 600 genes of unknown function. Cold-adapted microbes may serve as sources of novel enzymes and antimicrobial compounds. Researchers stress that while such organisms hold promise for biotechnology and drug discovery, strict laboratory safety measures are essential to prevent unintended spread.

#Bacteria
#Microbiology
#BacterialInfection
#AntibioticResistance
#PathogenicBacteria
#Probiotics
#BacterialGenetics
#MicrobialDiversity
#Biofilms
#MedicalMicrobiology

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