Hundreds of bacteria-infecting viruses have been identified on toothbrushes and showerheads tested in a new study. This is not a concern, however, because these viruses are not dangerous to humans, and studying how they work could reveal new ways to kill drug-resistant bacteria.
While we know that our toothbrushes and showerheads are full of bacteria that originate from our mouths as well as water sources, we know little about the viruses on these surfaces. Erica Hartman of Northwestern University and her colleagues sampled 92 shower heads and 36 toothbrushes from the bathrooms of people living in the United States.
Researchers identified more than 600 bacteria-infecting viruses (bacteriophage) by determining the DNA sequence of the collected samples. Most of these viruses, which are not dangerous to humans, were identified in samples collected from toothbrushes, and most of them had not been described by scientists before.
Hartmann and his colleagues did not examine whether the identified viruses affected the thousands of bacteria they were discovered with, but bacteriophages typically do one of two things: hijack the bacteria’s molecular machinery and replicate themselves, then When they leave the bacterial cell, they destroy it or integrate into the bacterial genome and change the behavior of the bacteria.
The bacteriophages identified by Hartman and colleagues are likely to be found on all wet surfaces in the home, such as the sink and inside the refrigerator. This resource enables scientists to better understand the range and detail of phages’ activity inside the houses.
Although researchers know little about phages, these viruses have recently gained attention for their potential use in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Previously unknown viruses found in our bathrooms could become a treasure trove of materials to investigate these applications.
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Hartman says people shouldn’t panic about the invisible microbial life in their bathrooms. Instead of using bleach to kill germs, they can soak their shower head in vinegar for a while to remove calcium buildup or wash it with soap and water. In addition, people should change their toothbrush heads regularly.
Hartman is not a fan of antimicrobial toothbrushes; Because he believes that it can lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes. “Microbes are everywhere, and most of them don’t make us sick,” he says. “The more you fight them with disinfectants, the more likely they will become resistant or the more difficult it is to treat the infection they cause.”
While the researchers found few patterns among the total samples, they found that mycobacteriophages were more abundant than other phage types. Mycobacteriophages infect bacteria of the Mycobacterium genus, which includes pathogenic species that cause diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis, and chronic lung infections. Hartman believes that one day researchers can use these types of phages to treat these infections as well as other infections.
