An unsuspected biodiversity hides in your bathroom. Behind the mundane appearance of your shower and toothbrush, a rich viral world thrives.
A study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University reveals the presence of over 600 different viruses on these everyday objects. These viruses are not there to harm us: they target bacteria.
The identified viruses, called bacteriophages or "phages," infect bacteria. Researchers have recently become interested in these phages for their potential use against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. This previously unknown viral biodiversity could therefore be valuable for medicine.
According to Erica M. Hartmann, a professor at Northwestern and lead researcher of the study, the observed diversity is staggering. These are not familiar viruses: many of them had never been detected before. Hartmann emphasizes that there's no need to travel far to discover this biodiversity: it is literally hiding right under our noses.
This project stems from a previous investigation, "Operation Pottymouth," which focused on bacteria living on toothbrushes and showerheads. Hartmann and her team highlighted a link between the presence of water and the proliferation of microbes in homes.
The next stage of the study aimed to analyze the DNA of the viruses present in the same samples. The results showed incredible diversity, with no overlap between the viruses found on toothbrushes and those on showerheads. Each sample, even from the same house, hosted its own distinct viral population.
Among the identified viruses, mycobacteriophages, which infect pathogenic bacteria such as those responsible for tuberculosis and leprosy, garnered particular attention. Hartmann envisions a future where these phages could be used to clean plumbing systems of pathogenic bacteria.
However, there's no need to panic. Hartmann assures that most of these microbes are harmless to us. Rather than relentlessly disinfecting them, it would be better to leave them alone or opt for simple solutions like vinegar or soap to maintain our bathroom equipment.
Ultimately, this research reminds us that microbes are an integral part of our daily environment, and most of them are not dangerous. On the contrary, they might even provide innovative solutions to public health issues.