Prelims: Current events of national and international importance
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Recently, researchers from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) studied the Rajgir hot spring in Nalanda, Bihar and discovered thermophilic Actinobacteria that produce antibiotic compounds effective against several disease-causing pathogens.
- Hot spring – A hot spring is a naturally occurring spring of water that is heated geothermally as it gets its heat from the Earth’s interior.
- Hot springs provide a mineral-rich, low-competition environment, for thermophiles bacteria.
- Findings of the study – At Rajgir hot spring, 40–43% of bacteria found were thermophilic Actinobacteria.
Thermophilic bacteria are heat-loving bacteria that thrive in 45°C to 70°C.
Actinobacteria are a group of Gram-positive bacteria and are renowned for producing antibiotics like streptomycin and tetracycline.
- Some Actinobacteria are thermophilic as they survive in hot environments like hot springs.
- Discovery of Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria – Researchers tested Actinobacteria strains against harmful pathogens (e.g., E. coli, S. aureus).
- It is found that 7 strains from the Actinobacteria showed strong antibacterial activity.
- And a compound called diethyl phthalate was isolated from one such strain which is effective against Listeria monocytogenes, which causes listeriosis.
Listeriosis is a serious foodborne infection caused by bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. It can be life-threatening, for pregnant women, infants, elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Importance of this findings
- Effective against Antimicrobial Resistance – Some isolated bacteria produced compounds that is effective against drug-resistant pathogens.
- This supports global efforts to find new antibiotics as existing ones become ineffective.
- Agricultural benefits – Hot spring microbes can help promote plant growth or develop heat-tolerant enzymes.
- Industrial benefits – Thermophiles from hot springs can be used in enzyme industries for the production of detergents, food processing, etc
- Bio-prospecting – This study opens the door to bio-prospecting of India’s geothermal ecosystems for useful microbes.
Bioprospecting is the systematic exploration of natural resources, including plants, microorganisms, and animals, for potential commercial applications
- Actinobacteria made up 40–43% of the Rajgir microbial population — unusually high.
- This suggests that hot springs could be a rich, untapped source of antibiotic-producing microbes.
Reference
The Hindu| Bacteria at Rajgir hot spring shows antibacterial activity
