![]() ![]() "Another interesting thing we discovered is a set of genes called 'zot' genes, which causes leaky gut syndrome," says Mincer. His group found that many of the bacteria they recovered in their samples carried a special set of genes that helps them to adhere to the slick surface of the plastic. "I think these bugs might just be adapting to plastic." "Our lab work showed that these Vibrio are extremely aggressive and can seek out and stick to plastic within minutes," says Tracy Mincer, assistant professor of biology at Florida Atlantic University, who led the work. Although related to Vibrio vulnificus – which can lead to necrotising fasciitis if it gets into open wounds – many of the bacteria the researchers found were more closely related to the microbe that causes cholera, Vibrio cholerae. Mixed in with the seaweed was a large amount of plastic debris – and it was teaming with other types of Vibrio bacteria, a large genus of bacteria that tends to be found in salt water and marine environments. It may even reveal new clues about what is causing these enormous seaweed blooms in the first place. What they did find, however, was perhaps even more surprising. In truth, scientists did not discover any Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium which can cause disease and death if it infects open wounds, in the samples they took from the sargassum, as well as the water around seaweed blooms and other debris found mixed with the clumps. May did see the amount of seaweed drop by around 15% compared to the previous month, though.īut while the arrival of sargassum on beaches isn't unusual at this time of year, the enormous seaweed mats cleaving off the belt and washing ashore on the beaches of Florida and Mexico recently hit the headlines due to reports of "flesh-eating" bacteria thriving on them. Scientists who monitor the formation of sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean have already warned that this year's bloom will " likely be the largest ever recorded", with its weight reaching more than 13 million tons (12 million tonnes) in April. The clumps are breaking off an enormous raft of free-floating seaweed known as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, which stretches 5,000 miles (8,047km) between the Gulf of Mexico and the west coast of Africa and can be seen from space. Giant clumps of sargassum seaweed have been washing ashore, choking the surf and blanketing beaches in a brown, stinking mass. ![]() It creeps in with the tide and you'll likely smell it before you see it. Along the coastlines of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, a monster is lurking. Would we shut down again? What will the United States do the next time a deadly virus comes knocking on the door?įor the latest news, sign up for our free newsletter. Here’s what you need to know about Arcturus. The latest omicron offshoot is particularly prevalent in India. 1.16, has been designated as a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization. New covid variant: A new coronavirus subvariant, XBB. Here’s who should get the second covid booster and when. The latest on coronavirus boosters: The FDA cleared the way for people who are at least 65 or immune-compromised to receive a second updated booster shot for the coronavirus. Tracking covid cases, deaths: Covid-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States last year with covid deaths dropping 47 percent between 20. Here’s what the end of the covid public health emergency means for you. End of the public health emergency: The Biden administration ended the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic on May 11, just days after WHO said it would no longer classify the coronavirus pandemic as a public health emergency. ![]()
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