London, May 25
Israeli researchers have found dangerous, antibiotic-resistant Vibrio bacteria in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, raising public health concerns, Tel Aviv University (TAU) said in a statement on Sunday.
These bacteria can cause serious illnesses in humans, including stomach issues, wound infections, and ear infections. They also harm marine animals like corals and shellfish, Xinhua news agency reported.
Vibrio bacteria can share genes, meaning once one becomes harmful, it can turn others into threats too. Warmer ocean temperatures, driven by climate change, are helping these bacteria spread to new areas and infect more people.
In their study published in mSphere, TAU scientists analysed the genomes of 23 Vibrio bacteria samples collected from the coastal waters of Tel Aviv and Eilat.
Their findings revealed a wide range of toxins, secretion systems, and mobile genetic elements that help the bacteria spread traits that boost their survival and virulence.
It was also found that at least 10 bacterial strains caused immune cells to die, and at least 12 could intoxicate competing Vibrio strains.
When tested against antibiotics commonly used to treat Vibrio infections, many samples showed strong resistance, especially to azithromycin.
One strain detected in the Red Sea produces a toxin deadly to shrimp, which has caused damage worth billions of U.S. dollars to shrimp farms worldwide.
According to the team, the results highlight the clear disease-causing potential of Vibrio bacteria in Israeli coastal waters and point to the urgent need for ongoing environmental monitoring to track and manage emerging threats.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is alarming! With India's long coastline, we need to be extra careful about such antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Our seafood industry could be at risk too. Hope our scientists are monitoring our waters closely. ðŸ™
Climate change is making everything worse! First extreme weather, now superbugs in the sea. We need global cooperation to tackle this - no country can fight this alone. Israel's research is important for all coastal nations.
As someone who loves beach vacations, this worries me. Are there any signs of these bacteria reaching Indian shores? Our tourism industry depends on clean coastal waters. Maybe we need better water testing at popular beaches.
The shrimp toxin part is concerning. India exports so much seafood - this could hurt our fishermen and exporters badly if it spreads. CSIR and other institutes should study if our waters have similar threats.
While this research is important, I wish Indian media would cover more of our own scientists' work too. Our marine biologists are doing great work that often goes unnoticed. Balance is important in science reporting.
Antibiotic resistance is becoming a global crisis. We overuse antibiotics in India too - doctors prescribe them for viral fevers! Maybe nature is fighting back with these superbugs. Time to change our medical practices.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.