A new study in the US has found an "absolutely wild" number of viruses living on shower heads and toothbrushes. Some of the detected microorganisms are new to science. The study was conducted by researchers from Northwestern University and is published in Frontiers in Microbiomes.&nbsp;

While this news might send you running to throw out your toothbrush and clean your shower heads, the presence of microbial viruses is not necessarily bad for our health. Even after cleaning the surfaces, microbes like bacteria and fungi inevitably come crawling back. Therefore, doctors and dentists advise regularly replacing toothbrushes and cleaning the bathroom to stop the growth of microorganisms.&nbsp;

But, a certain amount of exposure is inevitable, and it is vital to understand several microbes we commonly face. The study was conducted on 92 shower heads and 34 toothbrushes across the United States, using advanced DNA techniques to identify the bacteria and virus present.&nbsp;

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Northwestern’s Erica M. Hartmann led the study and said, “The number of viruses that we found is absolutely wild. We found many viruses that we know very little about and many others that we have never seen before. It’s amazing how much untapped biodiversity is all around us. And you don’t even have to go far to find it; it’s right under our noses.”&nbsp;

The researchers also found bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacterial cells and replicate within them. The study suggests they are vital in shaping bacterial communities and may influence our health. These newly identified viruses can have implications for controlling harmful bacteria and might even lead to new therapeutic applications in the future.&nbsp;

The team found viral communities- aka viromes- living on the toothbrush and shower head. Researchers said a toothbrush shows a greater diversity of viruses than a shower head because the bacteria on toothbrushes come from human mouths, and food particles and those found on shower heads come from the environment.

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This study is a small snapshot, but the findings suggest that some viruses and bacteria could be dangerous to human health. "Whether interactions between phages and their host have noteworthy implications on human health risks such as antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the built environments requires further investigation," the team concluded.

However, Hartmann, who led the study cautions against overreacting to these harmful microbes and said, "Microbes are everywhere, and the vast majority of them will not make us sick.” She said, "The more you attack them with disinfectants, the more they are likely to develop resistance or become more difficult to treat."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A new study in the US has found an "absolutely wild" number of viruses living on shower heads and toothbrushes. Some of the detected microorganisms are new to science.

A new study in the US has found an "absolutely wild" number of viruses living on shower heads and toothbrushes. Some of the detected microorganisms are new to science. The study was conducted by researchers from Northwestern University and is published in Frontiers in Microbiomes. While this news might send you running to throw out your toothbrush and clean your shower heads, the presence of microbial viruses is not necessarily bad for our health. Even after cleaning the surfaces, microbes like bacteria and fungi inevitably come crawling back. Therefore, doctors and dentists advise regularly replacing toothbrushes and cleaning the bathroom to stop the growth of microorganisms. But, a certain amount of exposure is inevitable, and it is vital to understand several microbes we commonly face. The study was conducted on 92 shower heads and 34 toothbrushes across the United States, using advanced DNA techniques to identify the bacteria and virus present. Also Read | Scientists develop Spider-Man-inspired strong sticky fibre that can lift any object Northwestern’s Erica M. Hartmann led the study and said, “The number of viruses that we found is absolutely wild. We found many viruses that we know very little about and many others that we have never seen before. It’s amazing how much untapped biodiversity 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 bacterial cells and replicate within them. The study suggests they are vital in shaping bacterial communities and may influence our health. These newly identified viruses can have implications for controlling harmful bacteria and might even lead to new therapeutic applications in the future. The team found viral communities- aka viromes- living on the toothbrush and shower head. Researchers said a toothbrush shows a greater diversity of viruses than a shower head because the bacteria on toothbrushes come from human mouths, and food particles and those found on shower heads come from the environment. Also Read | World Students Day: Check date, significance, reason for celebration and more details This study is a small snapshot, but the findings suggest that some viruses and bacteria could be dangerous to human health. "Whether interactions between phages and their host have noteworthy implications on human health risks such as antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the built environments requires further investigation," the team concluded. However, Hartmann, who led the study cautions against overreacting to these harmful microbes and said, "Microbes are everywhere, and the vast majority of them will not make us sick.” She said, "The more you attack them with disinfectants, the more they are likely to develop resistance or become more difficult to treat." (With inputs from agencies)

‘Absolutely Wild’: Your toothbrushes and shower heads are teeming with viruses and bacteria, study finds

A new study reveals that your bathroom is teeming with viruses. A research done at Northwestern University studied two things that people use every day-- the toothbrush and shower head, the results have been quite surprising. Watch in for more details!

Tons Of Viruses Live On Your Toothbrush And Showerhead: Study

In a new research led by Northwestern University, microbiologists have found that an extremely diverse group of viruses grow on our showerheads and toothbrushes.

In a new research led by Northwestern University, microbiologists have found that an extremely diverse group of viruses grow on our showerheads and toothbrushes. However, these viruses don't target humans but bacteria. In the study, the microorganisms collected are bacteriophage or "phage" which is one kind of virus which is known for infecting the bacteria and replicating inside it. This study titled, "Phage communities in household-related biofilms correlate with bacterial hosts but do not associate with other environmental factors," was published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes. Speaking about the study, Northwestern's Erica Hartmann said, "The number of viruses that we found is absolutely wild. We found many viruses that we know very little about and many others that we have never seen before. It's amazing how much-untapped biodiversity is all around us. And you don't even have to go far to find it; it's right under our noses." Also Read: Oldest alive microbes are two-billion-year old and living in a rock. How did they survive? The study was started by Hartmann out of concern that a cloud of aerosol particles might be generated by flushing the toilet. "This project started as a curiosity. We wanted to know what microbes are living in our homes. If you think about indoor environments, surfaces like tables and walls are really difficult for microbes to live on. Microbes prefer environments with water. And where is there water? Inside our showerheads and on our toothbrushes," Hartmann said. During the study, she found more than 600 different viruses with no two samples being alike. "We saw basically no overlap in virus types between showerheads and toothbrushes," Hartmann said. "We also saw very little overlap between any two samples at all. Each showerhead and each toothbrush is like its own little island. It just underscores the incredible diversity of viruses out there," Hartmann said. Watch: Microbes developing resistance against antibiotics "We could envision taking these mycobacteriophage and using them as a way to clean pathogens out of your plumbing system. We want to look at all the functions these viruses might have and figure out how we can use them," Hartmann further stated. Will these microbes make humans sick? Hartmann said that the discovery of microbes should not be a concern to people as it will not harm them or make them sick. She further said it is best to regularly replace toothbrush heads and soak shower heads in vinegar to remove calcium bleach or just wash them in soap and water. "Microbes are everywhere, and the vast majority of them will not make us sick. The more you attack them with disinfectants, the more they are likely to develop resistance or become more difficult to treat. We should all just embrace them," Hartmann added. (With inputs from agencies)

Never-seen microbes are growing on your toothbrush and showerhead. Are they dangerous?

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