Antibiotic Resistant Cave Bugs
Posted: 4/18/2012
Posted April 18, 2012
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cut off from the outside world for
more than four million years have been found in a deep cave.
The discovery is surprising because drug resistance is widely
believed to be the result of too much treatment.
However, the resistant bugs from Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico
have had no contact with humans.
"Our study shows that antibiotic resistance is hard-wired into
bacteria," said Dr Gerry Wright, from McMaster University in Canada.
Researchers found that while none of the bacteria are harmful to
humans, almost all were resistant to at least one antibiotic and
some to as many as 14 different drugs.
© 2012 The Herald. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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