Swiss researchers have discovered 35 new bacterial species in hospitals. Seven of these can cause infections in humans, as shown in a study published in the journal ‘BMC Microbioloy’.
Unknown germs continue to appear in hospitals. A team from the University and University Hospital of Basel has been collecting such samples from patients with a wide variety of diseases since 2014, as the University of Basel announced on Monday.
When analyzing these samples, they could use conventional laboratory methods such as mass spectroscopy or sequencing a small fragment of the genome 61 bacteria do not belong to any known species. The researchers analyzed the entire genome of all these bacteria using a method that has only been available for a few years, according to the University of Basel.
It turned out that 26 of the bacterial species were already known. According to the researchers, their genome sequences had only recently been stored in databases, or the pathogens had only been described very recently. 35 of the bacterial species had never been discovered before.
Anyone who discovers a new species can choose its name. So far, the Basel researchers have done that two of the bacteria mentioned, the university said. One bacterium is called Pseudoclavibacter triregionum, based on Basel’s location on the border between Switzerland, France and Germany.
According to the researchers’ analysis, seven of the largely unnamed bacterial species are clinically important, that is, capable of causing infections in humans.
Many of these types of bacteria occur naturally in the skin and mucous membranes of people. “They are therefore often underestimated and little research is done,” said study leader Daniel Goldenberger in the statement. However, if these enter the bloodstream, for example through a tumor, they can cause infections.
(jam/sda)
source: watson
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