Your toothbrush may contain up to 600 unknown viruses, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
You don’t have to explore the depths of the ocean or the surface of Mars to discover unknown life forms. Sometimes all you have to do is take a close look at the products we use in the sink or bathtub. A recent study from Northwestern University identified up to 600 viruses living in a single toothbrush. The vast majority of these microbes are unknown to science.
To understand what organisms are found in a typical home, a team of scientists examined the places where people wash daily. For them, their life path is clear: they prefer damp places with little sunlight. So they went to his bathroom to get samples of toothbrushes and shower heads.
DNA sequencing of these samples revealed the microscopic world inhabiting personal care products. Testing confirmed the presence of more than 600 different viruses in each sample, each with unique diversity. The crops resembled small islands with their own people, experts say.
“We have discovered many viruses that we know very little about, and many others that we have never seen before. It’s incredible how much untapped biodiversity surrounds us. And you don’t even have to go far to find it; “It’s right under our noses,” said Erica M. Hartmann, director of the study.
A team of researchers from the University of Valencia in Spain confirmed that strains of highly resistant bacteria known as “extremophile organisms” exist inside the device.
Bacteriophage community on your toothbrush
The viruses discovered are bacteriophages, a special class of microbes that attack bacteria through infection and replication. They are extremely specific to the microorganisms they infect, so they do not pose a danger to humans. Toothbrushes may contain hundreds of bacteriophages, but those responsible for the study explain that people should not worry. Almost all of them do not affect human health.
Medicine has studied bacteriophages for decades for their ability to fight infections in humans. However, progress in understanding it has slowed since antibiotics were discovered and developed first. Health policy in the 20th century focused on the use of substances such as penicillin instead of bacteriophages. However, with the emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics, the conversation about the use of viruses that attack other microorganisms has again become relevant.
Ironically, the discovery of these microbial communities on bathroomware could lead to the development of methods to improve the cleanliness of the ecosystem. The new bacteriophages found can, for example, be used to clean water supply systems from pathogens dangerous to people. Bacteria love E. coli, salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus And Pesudomonas aeruginosaall of which cause serious infections are known inhabitants of the bathroom.
“Germs are everywhere. The vast majority of them will not make us sick. The more we attack them with disinfectants, the more likely they are to develop resistance or become more difficult to treat. We all need to embrace them,” Hartmann said.
To properly store toothbrushes, experts offer several important tips to prevent infections: the most effective are storing them upright, avoiding sharing with other people, ultraviolet disinfection, and replacing them every three to four months.