The ancestors of bacteria used to live in the deep sea

Some genes that allow the current bacterial species to infect humans may originate from a microbial ancestor that once lived in the deep ocean.

Surrounding hot springs is the development of non-light, oxygen-free microorganisms in a metal-rich acid environment.(Photo: HTV)

Japanese researchers have discovered strange common points between bacteria that live in extreme conditions near hot springs, on ocean dorsal and two familiar bacteria for the medical world, Helicobacter. Stomach ulcer and Campylobacter cause diarrhea.

Dr. Satoshi Nakagawa and colleagues compared the genomes of these bacterial species and found that the species of Sulfurovum and Nitratiruptor bacteria living on the ocean floor have many familiar genes for virulence in bacteria. These are important genes for microbial metabolism and the ability to adapt to the environment.

The researchers claim that the current bacterial pathogen has evolved from an ancestral ocean-dwelling ancestor.

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