United States: Recent studies indicate that city microbes have adapted to combat the cleaning products designed to eliminate them. Notably, new strains have been identified in urban areas, including those that were once exclusive to Antarctic desert soil.
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The rise in disinfectant use since the pandemic prompts questions about whether our efforts to sanitize urban spaces are backfiring.
A recent paper published in Microbiome highlights how these microbes are evolving to scavenge for nutrients in city environments, illustrating how human actions are reshaping the microbial landscape within buildings.
According to Dr. Xinzhao Tong, a lead researcher at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China, “Built environments present unique conditions that differ significantly from natural habitats.”
“Urban areas often lack the nutrients and essential resources microbes need for survival, resulting in a distinct microbiome,” he adds.
How Experts Reached Their Conclusions
Researchers collected samples from diverse built environments in Hong Kong, including subways, residential areas, and public facilities, totaling 738 samples. Using advanced shotgun metagenomic sequencing, they examined how these microbes have adapted to thrive in challenging urban settings.
The study uncovered 363 previously unknown microbial strains that interact with skin and nearby tissues. Some strains contain genes that enable them to metabolize cleaning products, utilizing these substances for energy.
Among these findings is a strain from the Candidatus phylum Eremiobacterota, previously isolated only in Antarctic soil.
Dr. Tong explains, “This novel strain can metabolize ammonium ions present in cleaning agents and has genes that break down residual alcohol in disinfectants.”
He warns, “Microbes capable of exploiting limited resources and tolerating manufactured products may outcompete non-resistant strains, increasing their survival and potential health risks if pathogenic.”