Highly adapted microbes found in microwave ovens: Study

Microwave ovens harbour specialised communities of highly adapted microbes according to a new studyThis finding is significant for hygiene and potential biotechnological applications as the hardy bacteria inside microwave ovens could be utilised in industrial processesldquoOur results reveal that domestic microwaves have a more lsquoanthropisedrsquo microbiome similar to kitchen surfaces while laboratory microwaves harbour bacteria that are more resistant to radiationrdquo said Daniel Torrent a researcher at Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL in Paterna SpainTorrent and colleagues sampled microbes from 30 microwave ovens 10 from singlehousehold kitchens 10 from shared domestic spaces like corporate centers and cafeterias and 10 from molecular biology and microbiology laboratoriesThe aim was to assess how microbial communities are influenced by food interactions and user habitsUsing nextgeneration sequencing and cultivation of 101 strains on five different media the researchers found 747 different genera within 25 bacterial phylaThe most common phyla were Firmicutes Actinobacteria and ProteobacteriaThe diversity was lowest in singlehousehold microwave ovens and highest in laboratory onesBacteria such as Acinetobacter Bhargavaea Brevibacterium and Rhizobium were found only in domestic microwaves while Arthrobacter Enterobacter Janibacter and Planococcus were exclusive to shareddomestic onesNonomuraea bacteria were isolated only from laboratory microwaves along with Delftia Micrococcus Deinococcus and a genus of CyanobacteriaThe microbial diversity in microwave ovens resembled that found on typical kitchen surfaces and solar panels suggesting that the constant thermal shock electromagnetic radiation and desiccation select for highly resistant microbes in these environmentsldquoSome species of genera found in domestic microwaves such as Klebsiella Enterococcus and Aeromonas may pose a risk to human health However the microbial population in microwaves does not present a unique or increased risk compared to other common kitchen surfacesrdquo said TorrentldquoFor both the general public and laboratory personnel we recommend regularly disinfecting microwaves with a diluted bleach solution or a commercially available disinfectant spray It is also important to wipe down the interior surfaces with a damp cloth after each use to remove any residue and to clean up spills immediately to prevent the growth of bacteriardquo Torrent addedAlso read IVF can prevent genetic disorders from being passed to offspring heres howThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever