Latest news with #Streptomyces
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Science
- RTÉ News
Here's why soil smells so good after it rains
Analysis: The smell called petrichor is a reminder of the fascinating and extremely valuable bacteria that thrive in the ground beneath your feet By Klas Flärdh, Lund University and Paul Becher, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Did you ever wonder what causes that earthy smell that rises after a light summer rain? That mysterious scent has been called " petrichor", and a main component of it is an organic compound called geosmin, which lingers around moist soil. Geosmin comes from the ancient Greek "geo", meaning earth, and "osme", meaning smell. We use this scent as an ingredient in perfumes and it is what gives beetroot its earthy flavour. Geosmin can also be perceived as an "off" flavour in water and wine. Animals can detect geosmin. Fruit flies, for example, dislike geosmin and they avoid anything that smells of it, possibly to avoid contaminated and potentially toxic food. But why is geosmin made in the soil? As part of a team of scientists from Sweden, the UK and Hungary, we discovered the fascinating biology behind this enigmatic compound. Smells like (microbial) team spirit Scientists have known since the 1960s that geosmin is made by microorganisms in the soil, primarily by bacteria with the scientific name Streptomyces. These bacteria are abundant in soil and are among nature´s best chemists, as they make a wide range of molecules (called specialised metabolites) from which many antibiotics derive. Streptomycetes and their close relatives make thousands of different specialised metabolites – a true treasure trove for the potential discovery of new antibiotics. It turns out that all streptomycetes have the gene for making geosmin, suggesting that it has an important function. But what do these bacteria gain from producing geosmin? This has been a longstanding mystery. In our recent study, we found that geosmin is part of the chemical language in a mutually beneficial relationship between Streptomyces bacteria and springtails, insect-like organisms that are abundant in the ground. We discovered this by asking if there could be soil organisms out there that would be attracted to the smell of Streptomyces. We baited traps with colonies of Streptomyces coelicolor and placed them in a field. Our traps captured several types of soil organisms, including spiders and mites. But strikingly, it was springtails that showed a particular preference for the traps baited with geosmin-producing Streptomyces. Using a particular species of springtail, Folsomia candida, we tested how these creatures sense and react to geosmin. We placed electrodes on their tiny antennae (the average body size of springtail is about 2mm) and detected which smells stimulated them. Geosmin and the related earthy odorant 2-methylisoborneol were sensed by the antennae, which is essentially the creature's nose. By studying springtails walking in Y-shaped glass tubes, we saw they had a strong preference for the arm that smelled of these earthy compounds. The benefit for the animals seems to be that the odours lead them to a source of food. While geosmin-emitting microbes are often toxic to other organisms which avoid them, we found that it did no harm to the springtails we tested. But how does producing these compounds benefit the bacteria? Streptomycetes normally grow as mycelium – a network of long, branching cells that entwine with the soil they grow in. When they run out of nutrients or conditions in the soil deteriorate, the bacteria escape and spread to new places by making spores that can be spread by wind or water. Our new finding is that spore production also includes the release of those earthy odorants that are attractive to springtails – and that helps spread the spores by another route. As the springtails grazed on a Streptomyces colony, we saw spores sticking to their cuticle (the outer surface of the animal). Springtails have a special anti-adhesive and water-repellent surface that bacteria typically don't stick to, but Streptomyces spores can adhere, probably because they have their own water-repellent surface layer. Spores eaten by the springtails can also survive and be excreted in faecal pellets. So, springtails help spread Streptomyces spores as they travel through the soil, in much the same way pollinating bees are lured to visit flowers and take with them the pollen grains that adhere to their bodies and fertilise the other plants they visit. Birds eat attractive berries or fruits and help the plant to spread its seeds with their droppings. Next time you encounter that earthy smell, let it be a reminder of the fascinating and extremely valuable bacteria that thrive in the ground beneath your feet. You might be listening in on an ancient type of communication between bacteria and the creatures that live with them in the soil.
Scroll.in
11-05-2025
- Health
- Scroll.in
Antibiotic resistance is millions of years old – modern medicine could learn from this history
Antibiotics are widely considered one of the most important advances in the history of medicine. Their introduction into clinical practice during the 1940s marked a major milestone in the control of infectious diseases, and these medicines have since improved human health and prolonged life expectancy. Today, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become a global threat, and presents a major challenge to medicine. Antibiotics' extensive and often indiscriminate use in medicine, veterinary clinics and agriculture has created the ideal conditions for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to emerge. However, this phenomenon is older than previously thought. Bacteria already had resistance mechanisms long before the discovery and introduction of antibiotics into clinical practice. This indicates that antibiotic resistance is a much more complex, widespread and deep-rooted ancestral evolutionary phenomenon than initially assumed. Studies have documented antibiotic resistance mechanisms in micro-organisms isolated from natural habitats, where human influence is minimal or non-existent. These environments include deep underground layers and the ocean floor, as well as ancient environments such as isolated caves and permafrost. Interestingly, many of the resistance mechanisms described in these untouched environments – whose origins date back thousands or even millions of years – are similar or even identical to those observed in present-day pathogenic bacteria. This suggests that the conservation and transmission of resistance mechanisms throughout evolution provides a selective advantage. Surviving in the ice The resistance genes found in permafrost samples from 30,000 years ago bear a striking resemblance to those found today. These strains were as resistant as more modern ones that have been observed to resist β-lactam antibiotics, tetracyclines and vancomycin. Staphylococcus strains resistant to aminoglycosides and β-lactams have also been isolated from 3.5 million year old permafrost samples. There are even older examples, such as Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, USA, an environment considered isolated for 4 million years. Nevertheless, a 2016 study found Streptomyces and Paenibacillus bacteria in Lecheguilla that were resistant to most of the antibiotics used in clinical practice today. 'Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ' is the full name for a multidrug-resistant bacterium that causes serious infections. A 2022 study concluded that certain strains were resistant long before the use of this group of antibiotics – it was their adaptation to hedgehogs infected by similar antibiotic-producing fungi that gave them a survival advantage. An arms race to survive Research has revealed that competition for resources and adaptation to different habitats were key factors in the evolution of antibiotic resistance. In pre-drug environments, natural antibiotics not only played an ecological role in inhibiting the growth of competitors, but also supported the survival of producer species. In addition, very small amounts of antibiotics acted as communication molecules, influencing the interactions and balance of microbial communities. This dynamic environment favoured the evolution of defensive strategies in antibiotic-exposed micro-organisms, whether antibiotic-producing or co-existing. This, in turn, drove the diversification and spread of resistance mechanisms over time. However, the presence of these mechanisms in isolated, pre-antibiotic-era environments raises questions about how resistance has originated and spread throughout microbial evolution. The study of these processes is key to understanding their impact on the current antibiotic resistance crisis. Looking forward by looking backward It is now suggested that antibiotic resistance genes may have been transmitted first from environmental micro-organisms to human commensal organisms, and then to pathogens. This process of transfer from the environment to the human environment is random: the more prevalent a resistance mechanism is in the environment, the more likely it is to be transferred. Reservoirs of resistance in the environment can accelerate bacterial evolution towards multiple drug resistance under antibiotic pressure. It is therefore crucial to consider the vast diversity of these resistance genes within microbial populations when developing or implementing new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. As Winston Churchill said, 'the longer you can look back, the further you can look forward'. This reflection underlines the importance of studying the past in order to understand and anticipate future risks. Researching ancestral resistance not only provides information on the evolutionary history of resistance genes, it can also help us predict how they will evolve in the future. This knowledge allows us to anticipate potential resistance mechanisms, which improves our ability to meet future challenges in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Antibiotic resistance dates back millions of years, with important lessons for modern medicine
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Antibiotics are widely considered one of the most important advances in the history of medicine. Their introduction into clinical practice during the 1940s marked a major milestone in the control of infectious diseases, and these medicines have since improved human health and prolonged life expectancy. Today, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become a global threat, and presents a major challenge to medicine. Antibiotics' extensive and often indiscriminate use in medicine, veterinary clinics and agriculture has created the ideal conditions for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to emerge. However, this phenomenon is older than previously thought. Bacteria already had resistance mechanisms long before the discovery and introduction of antibiotics into clinical practice. This indicates that antibiotic resistance is a much more complex, widespread and deep-rooted ancestral evolutionary phenomenon than initially assumed. Studies have documented antibiotic resistance mechanisms in micro-organisms isolated from natural habitats, where human influence is minimal or non-existent. These environments include deep underground layers and the ocean floor, as well as ancient environments such as isolated caves and permafrost. Interestingly, many of the resistance mechanisms described in these untouched environments – whose origins date back thousands or even millions of years – are similar or even identical to those observed in present-day pathogenic bacteria. This suggests that the conservation and transmission of resistance mechanisms throughout evolution provides a selective advantage. Surviving in the ice The resistance genes found in permafrost samples from 30,000 years ago bear a striking resemblance to those found today. These strains were as resistant as more modern ones that have been observed to resist β-lactam antibiotics, tetracyclines and vancomycin. Staphylococcus strains resistant to aminoglycosides and β-lactams have also been isolated from 3.5 million year old permafrost samples. There are even older examples, such as Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, USA, an environment considered isolated for 4 million years. Nevertheless, a 2016 study found Streptomyces and Paenibacillus bacteria in Lecheguilla that were resistant to most of the antibiotics used in clinical practice today. 'Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus' is the full name for a multidrug-resistant bacterium that causes serious infections. A 2022 study concluded that certain strains were resistant long before the use of this group of antibiotics – it was their adaptation to hedgehogs infected by similar antibiotic-producing fungi that gave them a survival advantage. An arms race to survive Research has revealed that competition for resources and adaptation to different habitats were key factors in the evolution of antibiotic resistance. In pre-drug environments, natural antibiotics not only played an ecological role in inhibiting the growth of competitors, but also supported the survival of producer species. In addition, very small amounts of antibiotics acted as communication molecules, influencing the interactions and balance of microbial communities. This dynamic environment favoured the evolution of defensive strategies in antibiotic-exposed micro-organisms, whether antibiotic-producing or co-existing. This, in turn, drove the diversification and spread of resistance mechanisms over time. However, the presence of these mechanisms in isolated, pre-antibiotic-era environments raises questions about how resistance has originated and spread throughout microbial evolution. The study of these processes is key to understanding their impact on the current antibiotic resistance crisis. Looking forwards by looking backwards It is now suggested that antibiotic resistance genes may have been transmitted first from environmental micro-organisms to human commensal organisms, and then to pathogens. This process of transfer from the environment to the human environment is random: the more prevalent a resistance mechanism is in the environment, the more likely it is to be transferred. Reservoirs of resistance in the environment can accelerate bacterial evolution towards multiple drug resistance under antibiotic pressure. It is therefore crucial to consider the vast diversity of these resistance genes within microbial populations when developing or implementing new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. As Winston Churchill said, 'the longer you can look back, the further you can look forward'. This reflection underlines the importance of studying the past in order to understand and anticipate future risks. Researching ancestral resistance not only provides information on the evolutionary history of resistance genes, it can also help us predict how they will evolve in the future. This knowledge allows us to anticipate potential resistance mechanisms, which improves our ability to meet future challenges in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos académicos. Lee mas: M. Paloma Reche Sainz receives funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the National Plan PID2023-150116OB-I00, where she forms part of the research team. Rubén Agudo Torres receives funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation. He has previously received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, and the European Commission's Horizon 2020 programme. Sergio Rius Rocabert reveices funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the National Plan PID2023-150116OB-I00, where he forms part of the research team.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make revolutionary breakthrough that could reshape how we grow food: 'This marks the beginning of a new era'
Scientists are using AI to solve the puzzle of why even genetically identical potato plants can have wildly different outcomes during the growing process. Their research could set the stage to bolster all sorts of crops with an array of benefits. The researchers' work was published in the journal Nature Microbiology, and they described their innovative AI model in a news release. The team consisted of scientists from Utrecht University, Delft University of Technology, and plant breeders. They looked to test the theory that fungi and bacteria on potatoes' surface could hold some of the answers to the divergent outcomes for potatoes. Their research confirmed that those microbes play a large role in the growth of potatoes. Their AI model took in both data from the fungi and bacteria on the surface of seed potatoes, and drone shots of the resulting plants. Data came from 240 test fields and thousands of seed potato samples. Armed with that information, the AI model delivered valuable information. "By combining these data points using AI, we could pinpoint the microbes that are the best predicators of potato growth," said biologist Yang Song. The model revealed standout microbes for growth like Streptomyces species bacteria, and microbes that deterred growth as well. "This marks the beginning of a new era in farming," the researchers declared in the news release. Lead scientist Roeland Berendsen added it was "a revolutionary way to improve agriculture through microbiology and AI." Potatoes have been a key target for scientists, as they are a critical food source around the globe. An effort from a separate research group is looking at altering potato DNA to cut down on fertilizer use while making the crop more resilient. With farmers around the world like Europe's potato growers facing challenges due to the changing climate, these efforts could be critical to the future of the crop. What is the biggest reason you haven't added solar panels to your home? The cost I need more information I don't own a home I already have solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Another aspect of the scientist's approach is using AI. AI has become a critical tool for scientists looking to optimize agriculture, whether it's in reducing fertilizer use, or helping farmers have an improved handle on conditions and weather. A critical part of any use of AI is making sure its positive contributions offset the concerningly high energy use that it requires, as MIT News described. In the case of this study, the researchers are thinking well beyond merely predicting potato growth. "By expanding the AI model with even more data, we can zoom in further to study how microbes and crops interact," Berendsen asserted. That could allow the purview of the scientists' findings to expand to connecting microbes with other crops, and learning how to optimize their growth as well. "We could coat seed potatoes or seeds with these beneficial microbes," suggested Berendsen. "Or even engineer plants to attract and retain the ideal microbes." All of these enhancements translate to more resilient and healthy crops. That could bring bigger harvests, a significant cut in waste, less pesticide use, and a large overall positive shift in the sustainability of farming. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
