Microbial Life Deep within Mines

Researchers have discovered micro-organisms in a 3 km deep copper/zinc mine (Kidd Creek Mine) in Ontario, Canada according to July 18, 2019 article in Geomicrobiology Journal. The find confirms previous thinking that ancient, sulfate-rich water in the region could support “deep microbial life.” 

Using a full complement of geochemical tests to compare the ancient fracture water with surface water made it possible for contamination between the sources to be eliminated.

This and other evidence suggests that a unique global biosphere thrives in the Earth’s crust with little or no surface interaction. The world’s oldest groundwaters (mean residence times of millions to billions of years) are located in fractures in Precambrian host rock at this depth.

Further genetic studies on deep well water microorganisms will shed light on all the diversity of previously unknown life deep within the Earth's crust. Go Science!

Seeking Out New Antibiotics

 We have all heard about how the body contains more microorganisms than it does cells. The vast majority of these are friendly bacteria that help our body in its processes. However, less than 1% are bad bacteria that cause illness. For these, we use antibiotics to stomp them into submission (i.e., kill them). But since bacteria replicate so quickly, they often develop a genetic change that helps them avoid or fight off an antibiotic's effects. 

So, microbiologists and immunologists have to constantly be on the look out for potential new drugs to fight off illness caused by bad microorganisms.

Check out this video where Professor Naowarat (Ann) Cheeptham, at Thompson Rivers University, talks about her research of exploring caves in the search for new species of "good" bacteria and fungi to produce new antibiotics. Who says scientists only stay in their labs? Go science!