Superbug Alerts Experts as Common Bacterium Becomes Nightmare 

Superbug Alerts Experts as Common Bacterium Becomes Nightmare. Credit | AP
Superbug Alerts Experts as Common Bacterium Becomes Nightmare. Credit | AP

United States: In the latest study report, it is revealed that a superbug, which results in around 300,000 deaths per year, has evolved much in the past two centuries. 

Understanding this development will help scientists progress in updating our knowledge of immunity against invading bacteria

More about the superbug 

The superbug, the name Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is capable of causing many multidrug-resistant infections, especially in those with underlying conditions- cystic fibrosis and lung damage from smoking. 

However, scientists state that it has not always been a special human killer since its conception, as independent.co.uk reported. 

According to researchers from the University of Cambridge, who studied almost ten thousand DNA samples of infection caused by the bacterium coming from across the world, a “family tree” of the bug was constructed. 

Superbug Alerts Experts as Common Bacterium Becomes Nightmare. Credit | Getty Images
Superbug Alerts Experts as Common Bacterium Becomes Nightmare. Credit | Getty Images

They found that there are only twenty-one “branches” consisting of seven in ten human infections. These variants are said to have rapidly evolved and expanded across the earth in just around 200 years. 

What more have the experts revealed? 

As scientists reveal, some of these variants are powerful enough to change the DNA, cause a genetic defect in people with cystic fibrosis, and lead to the living of immune system cells called macrophages. 

Moreover, researchers also identified a rapid spread of the bud, owing to the growing density in which people have started to live in the past two centuries, along with pollution growth, such as air pollution, making the human lung susceptible to infection. 

According to Andres Floto, one of the study’s authors, “Our research has taught us new things about the biology of cystic fibrosis and revealed important ways we might be able to improve immunity against invading bacteria in this and potentially other conditions,” as independent.co.uk reported. 

Dr Floto added, “The focus has always been on how easily this infection can spread between CF patients, but we’ve shown that it can spread with worrying ease between other patients, too.” 

Benefits of the study findings -Expert 

The researchers also add that the study findings would help better understand hospitals’ ability to control the spread of superbug infection in greater amounts. 

Moreover, Aaron Weimann, another study author, reported, “It is remarkable to see the speed with which these bacteria evolve and become epidemic and how they can specialize for a particular lung environment.” 

“We really need systematic, pro-active screening of all at-risk patient groups to detect and hopefully prevent the emergence of more epidemic clones,” Weimann continued.