Latest news with #MicrobiologySpectrum
Gizmodo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
Why Pooping on Planes Might Actually Be a Good Thing
Researchers have developed a new critical warning system for the spread of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) superbugs: poop and pee from airplane bathrooms. Scientists predict that by 2050, AMR superbugs, or pathogens that don't respond to antimicrobial medicines, might take more lives than cancer. As such, it's critical for countries to keep an eye on the global propagation of these dangerous pathogens, which can travel with people, in order to best prepare for future infections. In a study published in May in the journal Microbiology Spectrum, a team of international researchers suggests that aircraft toilet wastewater could warn authorities about the arrival of such superbugs. 'Long-haul flight aircraft wastewater may serve as a representative microbial footprint, often of mixed country origin, offering valuable insight into the movement of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on a global scale,' the team wrote in the study. 'Herein, we present a proof-of-concept for aircraft-based surveillance of AMR by investigating lavatory wastewater samples from 44 repatriation flights to Australia departing from nine countries.' The analysis revealed nine dangerous pathogens, including some superbugs that are resistant to more than one drug. The team investigated the superbugs' genetic signatures and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profiles, finding a gene that lends resistance to last-resort antibiotics on 17 flights. Interestingly, this dangerous gene was not present in Australia's urban wastewater at the time, indicating its arrival via international travel. All 44 flight samples had five out of the nine superbugs. 'Aircraft wastewater captures microbial signatures from passengers across different continents, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective way to monitor threats like AMR,' Warish Ahmed, a senior author of the study and researcher from CSIRO, said in a University of South Australia statement. Eighteen of the flights came from India, 14 from the United Kingdom, six from Germany, and one each from France, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, South Africa, Japan, and Indonesia. According to Nicholas Ashbolt, a co-author of the study and a microbiologist at the University of South Australia, flights from Asia, especially from India, revealed greater concentrations of antibiotic-resistance genes than those from Europe and the United Kingdom. These distinctions could be due to differences in antibiotic use, water sanitation, population density, and public health policies. 'International travel is one of the major drivers of AMR spread,' said Yawen Liu, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Xiamen University. 'By monitoring aircraft wastewater, we can potentially detect and track antibiotic resistance genes before they become established in local environments.' Tuberculosis, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2, for example, can also spread by air travel. While the researchers collected the wastewater samples from Covid-19 pandemic repatriation flights, potentially swaying passenger demographics, they argue that similar methods can also work for regular international travel. 'With AMR projected to cause more than 39 million deaths globally by 2050, the need for innovative surveillance tools is urgent,' Ashbolt concluded. 'Aircraft wastewater monitoring could complement existing public health systems, providing early warnings of emerging superbug threats.'
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Aircraft toilets could be key to tackling ‘silent pandemic', scientists say
Testing aircraft toilet waste could help track the global spread of drug-resistant superbugs, which is often referred to as the 'silent pandemic' and are projected to kill more people than cancer by 2050. The study, published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum, analysed lavatory wastewater from 44 international flights arriving in Australia from nine countries. Scientists, including those from the University of Southern Australia, detected nine high-priority pathogens and superbugs, including some that are acquired in hospitals and resistant to multiple drugs. Five of the nine superbugs were present in all 44 flight samples, while one gene that makes bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics was detected on 17 flights. This particular antibiotic-resistance gene had not been detected in Australia's urban wastewater so far, suggesting it likely entered the country through international air travel. The findings confirm that aircraft wastewater can be a valuable tool for global antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) surveillance. 'Aircraft wastewater captures microbial signatures from passengers across different continents, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective way to monitor threats like AMR,' said Dr Warish Ahmed, author of the study and principal research scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Of the 44 flights, 18 originated from India, 14 from the UK, six from Germany, and the remainder were single flights from France, UAE, Türkiye, South Africa, Japan and Indonesia. Researchers found that types and levels of pathogens varied depending on where the flights came from. 'Flights from Asia, particularly India, showed higher concentrations of antibiotic resistance genes, compared to flights from Europe and the UK,' said Dr Nicholas Ashbolt, another author of the study. The differences could be due to variations in antibiotic use, water sanitation, population density, and public health policies across regions, scientists say. 'Aircraft wastewater monitoring could complement existing public health systems, providing early warnings of emerging superbug threats,' Dr Ashbolt says. Researchers tested whether standard aircraft disinfectants could break down the genetic material, but found it remained stable for up to 24 hours even after cleaning. 'International travel is one of the major drivers of AMR spread. By monitoring aircraft wastewater, we can potentially detect and track antibiotic resistance genes before they become established in local environments,' said Yawen Liu, another author of the study. 'With AMR projected to cause more than 39 million deaths globally by 2050, the need for innovative surveillance tools is urgent,' Dr Ashbolt says. Scientists hope the proof-of-concept study can be developed further to turn aircraft toilets into an early-warning system to better manage public health.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Glacier-fed Ganga's microbes offer new hope in fight against superbugs: Neeri, NCL study
Nagpur: Researchers have unveiled the rich microbial diversity and antimicrobial potential of the glacier-fed upper stretch of the Ganges River, in a study published in Microbiology Spectrum. This groundbreaking work not only contributes to environmental microbiology but also holds promise for combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) under the globally endorsed One Health framework. The study, titled 'Deciphering the Comprehensive Microbiome of Glacier-Fed Ganges and Functional Aspects: Implications for One Health', was led by Dr Krishna Khairnar, principal investigator and head of environmental epidemiology and pandemic management at CSIR-Neeri. Dr Khairnar coordinated this multi-institute project sponsored by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). The research was conducted in close collaboration with Dr Mahesh Dharne and Dr Syed Dastager from CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), showcasing an exemplary inter-institutional partnership between CSIR-Neeri and CSIR-NCL. The project investigated microbial communities from sediment samples collected over two years along a 250km glacier-fed stretch of the Ganges, spanning Gomukh to Rishikesh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The findings revealed a rich diversity of bacteria, archaea, and bacteriophages. Notably, several microbes were found to possess biosynthetic pathways for important antimicrobial compounds such as streptomycin, penicillin, and cephalosporins. The study also documented bacteriophages with lytic potential against pathogens, including the clinically significant ESKAPEE group, offering insights into the river's long-attributed non-putrefying properties. "This research reinforces the Ganges River's ecological and biomedical significance," said Dr Khairnar. "Its pristine upper stretch is a natural reservoir of microbial diversity with untapped potential to combat AMR — an urgent global health challenge." This research was conducted as part of the doctoral thesis of Rachel Samson, who is registered with the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). Her dedicated effort in sampling, sequencing, and analysis played a key role in uncovering this microbial landscape. Thanks to the National Mission for Clean Ganga, this initiative not only contributed to the scientific understanding of the river's unique properties but also lays a foundation for future bioprospecting, phage therapy, and environmental conservation efforts, Dr Khairnar said.
