Bacteria Frozen 5,000 Years in Romanian Cave Resists 10 Antibiotics
Psychrobacter SC65A.3 from a 5,000-year-old Romanian ice cave resists 10 antibiotics and carries over 100 resistance genes, posing both risk and biotechnological potential.
- Today the Institute of Biology Bucharest published a Frontiers in Microbiology study documenting Psychrobacter SC65A.3 isolated from 5,000-year-old Scărișoara Ice Cave ice and tested for antibiotic resistance.
- The team drilled a 25-meter ice core from the Great Hall, kept ice fragments sterile, isolated strains in the lab, and sequenced genomes to link genes to cold survival and antimicrobial activity.
- Genomic analysis found over 100 resistance-related genes and almost 600 genes of unknown function, with resistance to ten modern antibiotics including ciprofloxacin, and 1 gene with antimicrobial potential.
- Scientists warned melting ice could release resistance genes into modern bacteria, while researchers say enzymes and antimicrobial compounds offer biotech potential and call for lab safety and further research.
- With warming glaciers and caves, researchers say the findings raise urgent global questions as climate change and thawing frozen environments could reawaken dormant microbes, while antibiotic resistance causes 1.27 million deaths annually, underscoring the need for monitoring ancient genomes and evolutionary insight.
95 Articles
95 Articles
In Romania, researchers discovered a bacterium of 5,000 years old. It is resistant to current antibiotics. Vincent Valinducq's explanations in "Hello! Morning TF1". - A bacterium of 5,000 years old, resistant to antibiotics, was discovered in Romania (Health and well-being).
Romanian scientists spotted a 5,000-year-old bacterium in samples collected from the depths of the Scărișoara Ice Cave that has not been exposed to modern medical advances, but is still able to defy several antibiotics.
Researchers have discovered a 5,000-year-old strain of bacteria in the deep ice of a cave in Romania that is resistant to ten modern antibiotics, and scientists say the discovery could contribute to understanding the spread of antimicrobial resistance, as well as the development of new types of therapies.
Mutant super-bug resistant to multiple modern antibiotics discovered trapped in 5,000-year-old ice
A super-bug resistant to multiple modern antibiotics has been discovered trapped in 5,000-year-old ice.The bacteria was found in the Scarisoara ice cave in Romania after scientists drilled 25 metres into its core.The ancient strain, dubbed Psychrobacter SC65A.3, was found to be resistance to 10 kinds of modern antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic designed to kill many types of germs.Despite its natural resistance, sc…
Fun With Climate Change: Drug Resistant Bacteria In Melting Ice
A study published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology describes Psychrobacter SC65A.3, a bacterial strain discovered frozen inside 5,000-year-old layers of cave ice in Romania. Testing revealed that SC65A.3 is resistant to 10 modern antibiotics and carries more than 100 genes linked to resistance despite never being exposed to these drugs. While exposure to antibiotics amplifies the prevalence of resistance genes, it does not allow …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium




























