(Web Desk) - 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."
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.
"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.