There are viruses on your toothbrush that weren’t there before

Until now, one of the biggest dangers associated with household viruses was thought to be toilet flushing and the formation of clouds of particles. Something similar happens with 10 other common household items that can harbor colonies of viruses and bacteria. But according to a new study, shower heads and toothbrushes is packed with an extremely diverse collection of viruses, most of which have never been seen before..

The microorganisms collected in the study are bacteriophages, or “phages,” a type of virus that infects and replicates inside bacteria. Although researchers know little about them, phages have recently gained attention due to their possible influence. use in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.. And previously unknown viruses lurking in our bathrooms could provide a treasure trove of material to study these applications.

“The number of viruses we discovered is simply incredible,” study leader Erica M. Hartmann explained in a statement. “We have discovered many viruses that we know very little about, and many others that we have never seen before. This is amazing. the amount of untapped biodiversity around us. And you don’t even have to go far to find it: it’s right under our noses.”

The new study is an offshoot of an earlier study in which Hartmann and colleagues at the University of Colorado Boulder characterized Bacteria living on toothbrushes and shower heads. In previous studies, researchers asked people to send in used toothbrushes. ​and swabs containing samples taken from shower heads.

“This project started as a curiosity,” adds Hartmann. – We wanted to know what microbes live in our homes. If we think about the internal environment, Surfaces like tables and walls make it really difficult for germs to live on.. Microbes prefer an environment with water. And where is the water here? Inside shower heads and on toothbrushes.

After characterizing the bacteria, Hartmann used DNA sequencing to study the viruses living in the same samples. She was immediately impressed. Total The samples contained more than 600 different viruses.and no two samples are alike.

“Essentially, we saw no overlap in virus types between showerheads and toothbrushes,” says the microbiologist. We also saw very little overlap between the two samples. Each shower head and each toothbrush is like its own little island. “This just highlights the incredible diversity of viruses that exist.”

Although they found few patterns among all the samples, Hartmann and his team noticed more mycobacteriophages than other types of phages. Mycobacteriophages infect mycobacteria, a pathogenic species that causes diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis and chronic lung infections.. Hartmann suggests that one day researchers will be able to use mycobacteriophages to treat these and other infections.

“We could imagine how we could take these mycobacteriophages and use them as a way to rid your plumbing system of pathogens. – indicates the study. “We want to study all the functions that these viruses might have and figure out how we can exploit them.”

The good news is that These viruses don’t attack people, they attack bacteria.. So instead of using bleach, experts advise soaking shower heads in vinegar to remove calcium buildup, or simply washing them with soap and water. We should also replace our toothbrush heads regularly. Hartmann is also not a fan of antimicrobial toothbrushes, which she says can promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

“Microbes are everywhere, and the vast majority of them do not make us sick,” the study concluded. The more we attack them with disinfectants, the more likely they are to develop resistance or becomes more difficult to treat. “We have to accept them.”