A bacterium preserved in ice for about 5,000 years has been identified as resistant to several currently used antibiotics, in a discovery that reinforces the global warning about the advance of so-called superbugs. The microorganism, named Psychrobacter SC65A.3, was found in a cave in Romania and analyzed by researchers who point to possible risks associated with the melting ice and the release of ancient organisms into the environment.
The study, published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Microbiology, draws attention to the possibility that resistance genes present in ancestral bacteria could be transferred to current microorganisms, exacerbating a problem that already threatens health systems worldwide.
The strain was located in the Scărișoara cave, in the interior of Romania, where scientists drilled a 25-meter-deep ice core in the so-called “Great Hall.” The collected material functions as a kind of natural record, equivalent to a timeline of approximately 13,000 years, allowing access to microorganisms preserved for millennia.
After sequencing the genome, researchers found that Psychrobacter SC65A.3 belongs to a genus known for surviving in extremely low temperatures, which would explain its preservation in glacial conditions for thousands of years.
The most worrying finding, however, came from the resistance tests: the bacteria demonstrated the ability to resist 28 antibiotics from 10 different families, including widely used drugs such as rifampicin, vancomycin, and ciprofloxacin. Furthermore, this is the first strain of the genus with resistance detected to substances such as trimethoprim, clindamycin, and metronidazole.
Researcher Cristina Purcarea, author of the study, highlighted the risk associated with the advancing thaw and the potential spread of these genes in the contemporary environment. “We could face a serious problem if the thaw releases these microbes,” she stated.
Genetic sequencing also revealed that the microorganism possesses more than 100 genes linked to antimicrobial resistance, in addition to approximately 600 genes whose function is still unknown, which increases uncertainties about its potential impact on ecosystems and public health.
The scientists’ main concern is that the release of ancient bacteria could introduce resistant genes into the environment that were not circulating in the current world, strengthening modern pathogenic strains and making it more difficult to combat infections.
Despite the warning, the researchers also highlighted that the discovery could bring opportunities for science. The bacteria showed the ability to produce enzymes and antimicrobial compounds capable of inhibiting the growth of some current superbugs, opening up space for research focused on the development of new drugs.
Purcarea highlighted the potential of these discoveries for medicine and industry. “These ancient bacteria are essential for science and medicine. They can inspire new antibiotics and industrial enzymes,” he explained.
The study also identified 11 genes with the potential to eliminate or inhibit other microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses — a result considered promising in the face of the global antibiotic resistance crisis, which is already a concern for scientific organizations and health authorities.
Source: brasil247.com