A recent study has found a wide variety of microorganisms living in the hot waters of the Roman Baths, which are known as one of the UK’s top tourist spots. The tests revealed that 15 of the bacteria found, including Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, had different levels of effectiveness in fighting against harmful human pathogens such as E.coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, and Shigella flexneri. The world-renowned Roman Baths may play a crucial role in the global battle against antimicrobial resistance, according to this new study.Published in the journal The Microbe, this is the first study to thoroughly examine the bacterial and archaeal communities in the waters of the popular tourist attraction in the city of Bath (UK).
Researchers gathered water, sediment, and biofilm samples from various locations within the Roman Baths complex, including the King’s Spring (where the waters are around 45°C) and the Great Bath, where the temperatures are closer to 30°C.
The samples were then analyzed using advanced sequencing technology, and traditional culturing techniques were used to isolate bacteria with antibiotic properties.
About300 different types of bacteria were discovered at the Roman Baths site, including important groups like Actinobacteria and Myxococcota, which are known for producing antibiotics. These bacteria were found in different amounts depending on the water temperature. Additional tests showed that 15 of these bacteria, including examples of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, demonstrated varying levels of inhibition against harmful human pathogens such as E.coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, and Shigella flexneri. This research is particularly important as the demand for new sources of antibiotics is currently very high due to bacteria resistance.The currently used medication is believed to be responsible for more than 1.25 million deaths globally each year.
In the study, scientists emphasize that further investigation is needed before the microorganisms found in the Roman Baths can be used to combat disease and infection worldwide. However, they also note that the initial study has demonstrated the clear potential for exploring the novel natural products contained within its hot springs for this purpose.
The research was conducted by students and academics from the University of Plymouth.The School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Biological and Marine Sciences are collaborating with staff at the Roman Baths. Dr. Lee Hutt, who is a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Plymouth, is the senior author of the study. He stated: “This research is extremely important and very exciting. Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health threat, and the search for new antimicrobial natural products is intensifying. This study has, for the first time, identified some of the microorganisms found within the Roman Baths, indicating that it could be a potential source of new antimicrobial drugs.”The discovery of the medicinal properties of the waters at the Roman Baths is filled with irony. Thanks to modern science, we may soon uncover that the Romans and others were onto something with their beliefs in the healing powers of the waters. The Roman Baths has been a popular destination for visitors for nearly 2,000 years, with over a million people exploring its hot springs and collections in 2023. Zofia Matyjaszkiewicz, Collections Manager at the Roman Baths and co-author of the study, noted, “People have been visiting the springs in Bath for thousands of years, worshiping, bathing, and drinking from them.”Over the centuries, natural spring waters have been used for their healing properties, even in the Victorian era at the Spa Treatment Centre in Bath. The cutting-edge scientific research taking place at this site is very exciting, especially considering the history it holds.”
Now, the research is being expanded through a PhD studentship, which will be the first in-depth study of a UK thermal hot spring focused on antimicrobial discovery.
Set to start in October 2024, the study will use various techniques to screen microorganisms found in the Roman Bat.
Antimicrobial Activity in Roman Baths
A recent study conducted physicochemical and metagenomic analysis of samples from the Roman Baths in Bath, UK to determine the potential for antimicrobial activity. The study aimed to identify bacterial and archaeal diversity and assess the possibility of discovering new antimicrobial agents for future clinical use.
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