Our toothbrushes are home to hundreds of new viruses. It could be the future of biotech.

  • A new study has found hundreds of unique viruses called bacteriophage on toothbrushes and shower heads.
  • Phage targets bacteria, not humans, and can be an important tool against disease.
  • Phage research can lead to new approaches in biotech to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The next big breakthrough in disease-fighting innovation may be far beyond your bathroom.

A recent study found hundreds of microbes in samples of toothbrushes and shower heads, including many that have never been seen before, let alone tested.

But this particular type of virus, known as a bacteriophage, doesn’t affect human health because it targets and infects bacteria, not us, according to Erica Hartmann, a professor of social and environmental engineering at Northwestern University who was lead the lesson.

“It’s still a big thing; it’s not scary. It’s actually a lot of fun,” Hartmann told Business Insider.

Understanding how these infectious particles work can be an important step in protecting us from harmful viruses and bacteria, including those that cause tuberculosis and other serious diseases.

“The more we know about what’s in shower heads and what’s in toothbrushes about viruses and bacteria, the further we can go in understanding how we get sick and even inventing new tools to combat those pathogens,” Miryam Wahrman, professor of Biology. At William Paterson University in New Jersey who was not involved in the study, he told Business Insider.

Unchecked germs live on your household items

Researchers from Northwestern University were inspired to investigate toothbrushes because of a previous study that investigated whether flushing the toilet can release aerosols that can contaminate toothbrushes left on the countertop. .

The good news is that the study, called “Operation Pottymouth,” found no evidence of bacteria associated with toothbrush poop.

“Incredibly, we’re finding that the germs on the toothbrush come from your mouth,” Hartmann said.

A team of researchers decided to take a used toothbrush and take a closer look at what was hanging there.

In a previous study, they also analyzed samples taken from shower heads to provide more insight into the people who live in our bathrooms.

The researchers were not surprised to find that this furniture was home to many germs due to its warm, humid environment.

But they were amazed at the variety of viruses that existed. There was so much diversity that there was almost no overlap between the samples, meaning that each toothbrush and shower head hosted its own unique microscopic world.

The findings were published on October 9 in Frontiers in Microbiomes.

“I encourage people to look at the things they see every day and think of them as potential hot spots for new biotechnology,” Hartmann said.

Phages could be the new frontier of biotech to fight diseases

There is no reason to be upset with the little citizens who live in our homes.

“I don’t think there is a need to change behavior or improve cleaning. These are not viruses that will infect you, these are viruses that may be cured,” Hartmann said.

It is a common misconception to think of all viruses and bacteria as potential threats, but many viruses are harmless, beneficial, and sometimes necessary for life. the beauty of people.

Bacteria and viruses have given rise to innovations in science, biotechnology, and health care that we benefit from every day, such as penicillin and DNA research.

“Microbes are everywhere all the time, and most of them won’t make you sick,” Hartmann said. “If we approach it with wonder and curiosity instead of fear, we can deal with microbes.” rather than opposing them.”

A phage is interesting because it works hard to invade and reproduce inside bacteria, including bacterial pathogens. These germs make us sick and can resist our defense mechanisms, such as antibiotics.

“The enemy of our enemy is our friend. It’s a very useful tool,” Wahrman said.

Researchers have known about the existence of phages for over a century, but antibiotics have received most of our attention. Now that some viruses have smart antibiotics, the phage is an open frontier for innovation.

In the future, the phage may be a rich source of new technologies such as phage therapy, in the same way medicine has produced drugs from plants or animals. Instead of exploring the far reaches of the planet, these discoveries may come from digging deep into the things around us every day.

“There are many things waiting to be discovered under our noses or under our toothbrushes,” Hartmann said.