Scientists sound the alarm over the “unprecedented risk” of ‘Mirror Bacteria’
These microorganisms can develop significant resistance to immune defences, leading to deadly infections in living organisms.
A team of researchers has discovered that ‘mirror bacteria’ pose severe infection risks to humans and have the potential to devastate ecosystems by overcoming the immune defences of organisms, according to a report by The Guardian.
While these organisms hold great promise in fields like biotechnology and medicine, particularly in developing new drugs and therapies, they also present numerous risks. Scientists are urging a halt to all ongoing projects to prevent future harm.
In the biosafety sphere, this is one of the most consequential national security papers in recent memory
— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) December 13, 2024
“Although we were initially skeptical that mirror bacteria could pose major risks, we have become deeply concerned… technological progress will likely make this possible” pic.twitter.com/MMLxQALQON
Immune to Current Antibiotics and Viruses
These molecules are ‘inverted versions’ of natural molecules, and the primary danger lies in their immunity to current antibiotics and viruses.
They could spread uncontrollably, causing deadly infections in humans, animals, and plants, warns Professor Vaughn Cooper of the University of Pittsburgh.
Moreover, these microbes could revolutionise ecosystems, as they would not be threatened by their natural competitors, such as viruses or amoebas, and would be undetectable by all plants worldwide, according to Jonathan Jones, a botanist at the Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich.
Despite the potential for developing useful mirror proteins, “the effects on ecosystems would be devastating,” says evolutionary biologist Deepa Agashe from the National Centre for Biological Sciences in India.
Major paper today on mirror bacteria and the risks to human, plant, and animal life.
— Caleb Watney (@calebwatney) December 12, 2024
(Truly wild) substance aside, it's neat to see effectively ~all the top scientists in an area come together for an in-depth exploration like this with a call for future discussion. pic.twitter.com/NJnZs3lL0e
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Original article written by Arianna Villaescusa, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.
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