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Bacteriophages found on toothbrushes can help fight infections.
Scientists have discovered more than 600 different viruses by taking swabs from people's toothbrushes and showerheads – fortunately, the vast majority of them are more beneficial than harmful.
Erica Hartman, a microbiologist at Northwestern University and lead author of a new study published this week in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes, told Gizmodo that she was both amazed and intrigued to discover that these everyday objects were teeming with bacteria-eating viruses known as bacteriophages.
"There are so many incomprehensible things in the world around us, including things that seem familiar to us," Hartman explained. "We've started looking at things like toothbrushes and shower heads because they're important sources of microbes that we come into contact with on a daily basis, but we don't know what germs they carry or what factors influence that".
The latest study is a follow-up to a 2021 Northwestern University team project called Operation Pottymouth, in which scientists investigated the sources of bacteria found on toothbrushes.
Despite the incredible diversity among more than 600 phage samples, viruses that kill pathogenic mycobacteria were slightly more common than others, Hartman said. Because mycobacteria can cause serious infections such as leprosy and tuberculosis, the presence of viruses that kill them is good news.
"Toothbrushes and shower heads contain phages that are unlike anything known to science," the microbiologist noted. "Not only did we find different types of phages on toothbrushes and shower heads, but we also found unique phages on each individual brush and each nozzle."
In recent years, phages have been actively researched and used to treat bacterial infections, especially those that have mutated and become resistant to antibiotics. According to Hartman, while these results are interesting in their own right, their possible medical applications make them even more valuable.
"It's possible", she said, "that the next great cure for bacterial infections will be based on what grew on your toothbrush."
While the mere thought of it doesn't evoke pleasant emotions, it sounds much better than leaving a mycobacterium infection, such as tuberculosis or chronic ulcers, untreated.
Source
Scientists have discovered more than 600 different viruses by taking swabs from people's toothbrushes and showerheads – fortunately, the vast majority of them are more beneficial than harmful.
Erica Hartman, a microbiologist at Northwestern University and lead author of a new study published this week in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes, told Gizmodo that she was both amazed and intrigued to discover that these everyday objects were teeming with bacteria-eating viruses known as bacteriophages.
"There are so many incomprehensible things in the world around us, including things that seem familiar to us," Hartman explained. "We've started looking at things like toothbrushes and shower heads because they're important sources of microbes that we come into contact with on a daily basis, but we don't know what germs they carry or what factors influence that".
The latest study is a follow-up to a 2021 Northwestern University team project called Operation Pottymouth, in which scientists investigated the sources of bacteria found on toothbrushes.
Despite the incredible diversity among more than 600 phage samples, viruses that kill pathogenic mycobacteria were slightly more common than others, Hartman said. Because mycobacteria can cause serious infections such as leprosy and tuberculosis, the presence of viruses that kill them is good news.
"Toothbrushes and shower heads contain phages that are unlike anything known to science," the microbiologist noted. "Not only did we find different types of phages on toothbrushes and shower heads, but we also found unique phages on each individual brush and each nozzle."
In recent years, phages have been actively researched and used to treat bacterial infections, especially those that have mutated and become resistant to antibiotics. According to Hartman, while these results are interesting in their own right, their possible medical applications make them even more valuable.
"It's possible", she said, "that the next great cure for bacterial infections will be based on what grew on your toothbrush."
While the mere thought of it doesn't evoke pleasant emotions, it sounds much better than leaving a mycobacterium infection, such as tuberculosis or chronic ulcers, untreated.
Source
