If you have had a sponge in your kitchen for dishwashing, you may want to put some bleach on it... New research shows that kitchen sponges are a party for bacteria! Eeew. Here's the research>>
MAR 01 2022 7:00 AM SCIENCE NEWS
Sponges are remarkably diverse hot spots for bacteria.
Sponges are microbe paradises, capable of housing 54 billion bacteria per cubic centimeter. In addition to being damp, airy and loaded with food scraps, sponges provide an optimal physical environment for bacteria, researchers report February 10 in Nature Chemical Biology.
Just like humans, bacteria prefer different levels of interactions with their peers. Some bacteria are more social, while others prefer solitude. Lingchong You, a synthetic biologist at Duke University, and colleagues wondered how separating different types of microbes would affect their community interactions. They found that intermediate levels of separation — similar to that found in a sponge — maximize the diversity of the community.
The researchers distributed different strains of E. coli onto plates with anywhere from six to 1,536 wells, which functioned as isolated compartments. After 30 hours, the team examined the number and types of bacterial strains on each plate.
Kitchen sponges, with an array of large and small holes, not only offer an ideal number of compartments for bacteria, but also provide a range of varying-sized parties that can suit more of the microbes’ needs.
Fortunately, the bacteria partying in your sponge are mostly nonpathogenic. But if dangerous bacteria — like Salmonella from raw chicken — do show up, the sponge’s optimal structure will probably help them survive (Science News: 8/9/10).
The good news is that it’s easy to solve the problem. Brushes are a much safer alternative. And if you love your sponge, don’t use it for meat juices. No need to invite bad bacteria to the party.
No comments:
Post a Comment