This vast and strange world, unbeknownst to many people, has just been revealed by researchers in a groundbreaking new study. They found hundreds of new bacteria and two potential antibiotics and this was all from just a single soil sample. Rockefeller University’s field research center in the New York countryside was the home for this pioneering research. It is just a drop in the bucket to how amazing soil biodiversity is, the planet’s largest reservoir of bacteria.
Soil is one of the most diverse habitats on earth, with a single teaspoon harboring millions of microbes and thousands of different species. This investigation marked the most extensive long-read investigation of a single soil sample to date. In doing so, it set a new benchmark, generating a staggering 2.5 terabase-pairs of sequence data. The results uncover an amazing truth; however, even more than 99% of these annotated bacterial genomes are entirely novel to science. That leads us to the enormously exciting potential for microbial discoveries!
Unveiling the Hidden Microbial World
The research team used a novel, non-destructive method to map the soil profile. This allowed them to accurately derive hundreds of complete bacterial genomes from a single sample. This breakthrough methodology allows researchers to target and study larger, more complex DNA fragments. In doing so, it makes it easier to piece together complete genomes than conventional techniques that rely on smaller fragments.
Using this innovative technology, we’re amplifying and expanding our efforts to explore the microbial worlds we never knew existed. It provides a quickly scalable approach that is portable to multi-omic settings.
“It’s easier to assemble a whole genome out of bigger pieces of DNA, rather than the millions of tiny snippets that were available before.”
Among the countless discoveries born of this adventure, the team discovered erutacidin as one of two antibiotics. This promising new compound acts on bacterial membranes by binding specifically to the lipid cardiolipin to disrupt the membrane. It has shown real promise against some of the most difficult to treat drug resistant bacteria.
These findings have far-reaching consequences. Such discoveries could open doors to new medicines needed to combat the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance. Brady remarked on the progress made in translating these findings into viable solutions:
“All over the world there’s this hidden ecosystem of microbes that could have dramatic effects on our lives.”
Potential Antibiotics Discovered
Erutacidin isn’t the only such antibiotic researchers have identified. This find points to soil as an underexamined, but abundant source of bioactive molecules that could be the basis for new drugs.
The impact of this study goes far beyond the medical community. Soil’s incredible biodiversity presents a myriad of opportunities for industries ranging from ag-tech to environmental research. As Burian, another researcher involved in the study, pointed out:
“And we’re not just seeing this information; we’re already turning it into potentially useful antibiotics. This is just the tip of the spear.”
All this work is a big step toward actually understanding and using soil microbes’ potential. With these tools to access previously uncultured bacteria, scientists are ready to lead a new wave of discovery in microbiology.
A New Era for Microbiology
The implications of this study extend beyond immediate medical applications. The extensive biodiversity present in soil offers a wealth of opportunities for various fields, including agriculture and environmental science. As Burian, another researcher involved in the study, pointed out:
“We’re mainly interested in small molecules as therapeutics, but there are applications beyond medicine.”
This research marks a significant step forward in understanding and harnessing the potential of soil microbes. By accessing previously uncultured bacteria, scientists are poised to drive a new generation of discovery in microbiology.
Burian added,
“We’re finally seeing and accessing the uncultured majority will drive a new generation of discovery.”