Bacteria Frozen Inside 5,000-Year-Old Ice Cave Is Crazy Resistant to Antibiotics

[highplainsdem]

Source: Gizmodo

A study published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology describes Psychrobacter SC65A.3, a bacterial strain discovered frozen inside 5,000-year-old layers of cave ice in Romania. Testing revealed that SC65A.3 is resistant to 10 modern antibiotics and carries more than 100 genes linked to resistance despite never being exposed to these drugs.

-snip-

While exposure to antibiotics amplifies the prevalence of resistance genes, it does not imbue microbes with these protective traits. Those arise naturally through random genetic mutations and the constant pressure to out-perform other microorganisms in the environment, many of which produce their own antimicrobial compounds.

The ancient Psychrobacter SC65A.3 strain is a perfect example of how these natural processes lead to antibiotic resistance. Purcarea and her colleagues found it inside an 82-foot (25-meter) ice core they extracted from Scarisoara Ice Cave in northwestern Romania. The core represents 13,000 years of climatic history, including the 5,000-year-old ice layers that contained SC65A.3.

-snip-

“If melting ice releases these microbes, these genes could spread to modern bacteria, adding to the global challenge of antibiotic resistance,” Purcarea said. As the global temperature rises, the risk of releasing ancient superbugs into the environment grows. Studying these bacterial strains, however, can also lead to the discovery of unique enzymes and antimicrobial compounds that inspire new drugs and other biotechnological innovations, Purcarea noted.

-snip-

Read more: https://gizmodo.com/bacteria-frozen-inside-5000-year-old-ice-cave-is-crazy-resistant-to-antibiotics-2000723002

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Much more at the link. No paywall.

The study the story's about is here:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1713017/full

[dweller]

1. and

YOU DEFROSTED IT ?!?1!?

😑




✌🏻

[yardwork]

5. Well, we all did. As the earth heats up the ice melts.

The melting ice is going to release a lot of things.

[NewHendoLib]

2. Ah - a race between that bacteria, climate change and maga

for our demise!

Huzzah!

[SheltieLover]

3. Swell.

[sorcrow]

4. Very interesting

I had no idea that Romania had conditions that would allow 10000 year old ice to survive. Google Romanian glacier for a great lesson about underground glaciers.

I had no idea that underground glaciers were a thing as opposed to permafrost

The bacteria aspect is a little scary.

Best regards,
Sorghum Crow

[OC375]

6. Fascinating

Time and time again I'm amazed by history's simple mysteries. Anatomically modern humans were around then, building megaliths and gathering in the hundred to thousands in central locations and aligning things with the stars, just across the water in Turkey. What did they know about dealing with life that we don't? We assume they didn't have antibiotics, but they persisted around this time, so what did they do? Sorry, my mind can go for hours on these things.

[eggplant]

7. Do we all want to die from a Jurassic Park bacteria?

Because this is how we do it.

[tavernier]

8. Somewhere Andy Weir is penning a new novel.

Better notify my Audible Wish List to be first in line once it’s published. Wonder who our hero will be once the movie rights are purchased?

[popsdenver]

9. As the ice melts

scientists are also discovering Virus' that have never been seen before, and are still virulent when the moment they can attach themselves to ANY biological substance......

[BaronChocula]

10. Who can blame it?

I'm not half that old and I'm resistant to a lot of stuff.

[angrycaveman]

11. What could go wrong?

[Sancho]

12. Aliens!!?

[Martin68]

13. Oh, great A new bio-weapon.

[lonely bird]

14. Yikes

There is already Vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus.

Humans are going to kill themselves.

[IronLionZion]

15. RFK Jr can go lick it to prove it's good for health

[Bayard]

16. Psycho-terial strain

I've seen several movies that start like this.....