October 14, 2024 10:25 am IST
A new study finds that your toothbrushes and showerheads are ‘absolutely insane’ full of viruses.
Your toothbrush and showerhead are full of viruses. A new study finds hundreds of viruses that live there, offering a look at the hidden world of germs in our bathrooms. The study was published in Frontiers in Microbiomes by researchers at Northwestern University.
Microbial populations on showerheads and toothbrushes
One would think that our toothbrushes and showerheads, being in the bathroom and regularly coming in contact with water, would be virus-free. However, research found surprisingly different microbial populations on them. The study analyzed 92 showerhead and 34 toothbrush samples from across the United States, using advanced DNA sequencing techniques to identify the bacteria and viruses present.
“The number of viruses we found is absolutely wild,” Northwestern’s Erica M. Hartman, who led the study, said in a university release. We found many viruses about which we know very little and many viruses that we had never seen before. It’s amazing how much untapped biodiversity there is all around us. And you don’t even have to go far to find it; It’s right under our noses.”
The researchers also found bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria – in both showerheads and toothbrushes. According to the study, they play an important role in shaping bacterial communities and may also affect our health in ways we do not yet fully understand. These newly identified viruses may have implications in controlling harmful bacteria and may also lead to new therapeutic applications in the future.
Toothbrush contains a variety of microorganisms
Compared to the showerhead, toothbrushes contain a diverse range of germs. This happens because our toothbrush comes in contact with a variety of bacteria, including bacteria from our mouth, food particles, and environmental germs.
“We saw basically no overlap in the types of viruses between showerheads and toothbrushes,” Hartman said. “We saw very little overlap between any two samples. Each showerhead and each toothbrush is like its own little island. “This underlines the incredible diversity of viruses out there.”
Ultimately, Hartman said, “Microorganisms are everywhere, and most of them won’t make us sick. The more you attack them with disinfectants, the more likely they are to develop resistance or become more difficult to treat. We Everyone should adopt them.
Catch every big hit,…
See more
