Bacteria may travel thousands of miles through the air globally
Bacteria may travel thousands of miles through the air worldwide instead of hitching rides with people and animals, according to a new study published by US scientists.
Their “air bridge” hypothesis could shed light on how harmful bacteria share antibiotic resistance genes. “Our research suggests that there must be a planet-wide mechanism that ensures the exchange of bacteria between faraway places,” said senior author Konstantin Severinov, a principal investigator at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology and professor of molecular biology and biochemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.