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A team led by microbiologist Cristina Purcarea from the Institute of Biology at the Romanian Academy has uncovered a remarkable ancient microorganism deep within the Scarisoara Ice Cave in the Carpathian Mountains. The discovery, published in Frontiers in Microbiology, sheds new light on the origins of antibiotic resistance — and may even point toward future medical breakthroughs.
A Window Into the Distant Past
To reach the bacterium, researchers drilled a 25‑meter ice core from an underground glacier inside the cave. The sample containing the strain Psychrobacter sp. SC65A.3 was extracted from a depth of 16.5 meters. Using established ice‑dating techniques, the team determined the age of the surrounding ice to be approximately 5,335 years.
Ancient Resistance to Modern Drugs
In laboratory tests, the scientists exposed the ancient microbe to 28 commonly used antibiotics. The results were striking: ten of the drugs had no effect, including several well-known broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Genetic analysis revealed more than 100 gene segments linked to antibiotic resistance. According to the authors, this confirms that resistance mechanisms evolved long before the advent of modern medicine. For researchers in Austria and beyond, the finding provides crucial evidence that antibiotic resistance is a natural, ancient phenomenon — not merely a byproduct of contemporary drug use.
A Surprising Weapon Against Hospital Pathogens
Even more intriguing was the bacterium’s behavior when grown alongside other microbes. In controlled experiments, the ancient strain inhibited the growth of most of the 20 medically relevant bacteria tested. These included some of the most problematic hospital-associated pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter species, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
The study suggests that ancient microorganisms may possess effective natural defense mechanisms against modern-day superbugs.
Potential for New Antibiotics
For the research team, the discovery highlights the untapped potential of ice caves and other extreme environments as reservoirs of resistance genes and natural antimicrobial compounds. The scientists are now working to identify the specific substances responsible for the inhibitory effects observed in the lab.
If successful, these compounds could serve as starting points for new treatments targeting infections that are increasingly difficult to manage with existing drugs. In an era marked by rising antibiotic resistance, a bacterium preserved since the Stone Age may offer unexpected hope.
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