A new study carried out by Durham University has uncovered a worrying new effect of climate change – the rise of antibiotic resistance in soil bacteria.
The study was carried out by a multinational research team, including Prof. David W. Graham from the Department of Biosciences at Durham University, UK.
Published in the Nature Ecology and Evolution scientific journal, the study has shown that as global temperatures rise, bacteria in soil are becoming more likely to carry genes that make them resistant to antibiotics.
This discovery is especially important because soil is a major store for bacteria, many of which can transfer resistance genes to insects that can infect humans and animals, according to the research.
Climate change and human health
The study highlights the major threat antibiotic-resistant bacteria can pose to global health.
Rising temperatures not only help these bacteria live longer in the environment but may also allow dangerous pathogens to evolve faster, according to the research.
Even small increases in temperature could lead to major rises in soil antibiotic resistance, especially in colder regions.
Graham said: “Most people don’t realise that many infections come from bacteria that start in the natural environment”.
“As soil bacteria become more resistant, the chance of untreatable infections rises.”
The findings emphasise the need for a ‘One Health’ approach – recognising that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are all connected.
The research also used machine learning to predict that soil antibiotic resistance gene levels could rise by up to 23% by 2100 if high greenhouse gas emissions continue.
“This research confirms predictions made in past global reports that climate change isn’t just about weather – it’s also about how diseases may change and spread”, Graham added.
