ARKHANGELSK, December 12. /TASS/. Russian scientists discovered in the Arctic for the first time bacterium Escherichia marmotae, genetically close to microbiota strains of European wild boars, Artemy Goncharov of the Institute of Experimental Medicine told TASS, adding Escherichia, a potential pathogen, was found in Arctic fox excrement samples on the Franz Josef Land Archipelago's Hooker Island.
"We have managed to sequence the bacterium genome, and it turned out it belongs to a species new to the Arctic - Escherichia marmotae. Earlier, this bacterium was found in northern China, in Tibet, in the highlands in marmot microbiota structures," he said. "We have conducted a phylogenetic analysis, comparing its genome with genomes of other strains of the same species, described in the world literature. We have found that they are quite close to the European populations of this species. In terms of genetic characteristics this Escherichia turned out to be very close to microbiota strains of European wild boars."
The research material was collected near the bird colony in Tikhaya Bay on the Hooker Island. There nest mostly little auks, small Arctic birds. Scientists believe migratory birds could have brought the strain to the Arctic archipelago. "One suggestion is Escherichia marmotae could have been brought by migratory birds. Such connections cross the entire biosphere, at least in the Northern Hemisphere," the scientist said.
The bacterium requires further research because it may cause diseases. "It is assumed to be a potential pathogen because a series of severe invasive infections caused by this species have been described," he added. "At the same time, this species are periodically found in organisms of various animals, birds, and small mammals. Its ecological role is not entirely clear, whether it is a symbiont or a pathogen. Therefore, we consider this research interesting and promising."
Birds and pathogenic bacteria
Migratory birds can carry infectious diseases pathogens, while dozens of millions of migratory birds come to coastal Arctic ecosystems, and their microbiota undergoes active transformation and genetic exchange in the natural environment. Bird colonies are "hot spots" in formation of new pathogens and, in this regard, they are of particular interest for monitoring studies. The role of colonial birds as vectors for the transfer of pathogens on the islands in the Barents and Kara Seas has not been studied sufficiently, the expert said.
Besides, the active educational tourism and the Arctic's economic development suggest the importance of determining naturally active foci of zoonotic infections, supported by migratory birds and mammals.
Yersinia's new type
Scientists have discovered also a new species of Yersinia that is new to science. Yersinia is a genus of bacteria, which, in particular, includes the plague causative agent - Yersinia pestis. A number of other Yersinia can cause human diseases as well.
"Together with counterparts at the Pasteur Institute, we have analyzed samples collected in 2021 and 2022 during the Arctic Floating University voyages. We have found several strains that are closely related to each other, and at the same time they differ in genome structures from previously known species, he said. "Studying the Yersinia diversity in the Polar Regions is an interesting task, because among Yersinia's relatives there are pathogenic variants that can cause human diseases.".