If you thought the rainforest was a hotspot of biodiversity, then you haven’t looked at your toothbrush under a microscope. — dpa
Your toothbrushes and shower head are bustling with life, according to a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes.
The researchers found that more than 600 different viruses are teeming around you during your morning routine.
“The number of viruses that we found is absolutely wild,” says study leader Associate Professor Dr Erica Hartmann of Northwestern University in the United States.
“We found many viruses that we know very little about and many others that we have never seen before.”
Microbiologists found that there was also minimal overlap between two samples, she adds.
“Each shower head and each toothbrush is like its own little island.”
The good news is that the viruses are not dangerous for humans, but attack and multiply inside bacteria instead.
Such so-called bacteriophages have been the subject of increased research for some time now for the treatment of bacterial infections resistant to antibiotics.
The researchers think that the newly-discovered virus types could be a treasure trove for this.
Accordingly, many phages were found in the samples that specifically infect mycobacteria – the cause of diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis and lung infections.
“It’s amazing how much untapped biodiversity is all around us,” says Assoc Prof Hartmann.
“And you don’t even have to go far to find it; it’s right under our noses.”
For the study done in the US, the researchers asked people to send them used toothbrushes and swabs from their shower heads.
Previous analyses had already shown a great diversity of bacteria in the samples.
For the virus analysis, 34 samples from toothbrushes and 92 from shower heads were analysed.
“This project started as a curiosity,” Assoc Prof Hartmann explains.
“We wanted to know what microbes are living in our homes.”
Surfaces such as tables and walls are difficult for microbes to colonise because they prefer environments with water, she says.
“And where is there water?
“Inside our shower heads and on our toothbrushes.”
The diversity of microbes in the bathroom is by no means a reason to go out and buy cleaning products with an antimicrobial effect, the research team also emphasises.
It is enough to change your toothbrush regularly.
There is also no need for special antimicrobial toothbrushes, because they are likely to lead to antibiotic-resistant bugs, Assoc Prof Hartmann notes.
When it comes to the shower head, cleaning it with soap, and if necessary, descaling agent is enough.
“Microbes are everywhere, and the vast majority of them will not make us sick,” she says.
“The more you attack them with disinfectants, the more they are likely to develop resistance or become more difficult to treat.” – dpa
