Unknown microbes live in bus stops, train stations around the world
Recommended for Secondary Grades
What are microbes? They are extremely small living things that are found everywhere on Earth, even in our bodies. You can only see them only with special instruments (a microscope). Microbes include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Many of them also cause diseases.
Between 2015 and 2017, scientists conducted an experiment around the world called MetaSUB.
In this experiment, scientists swabbed (rubbed with a piece of cloth or cotton) benches, railings, ticket counters of public transportation systems.
Overall, they took samples from 60 train systems and bus stops in different countries. Places like these always have many people coming and going from different places.
Then, scientists studied the samples. They found that 31 species of bacteria were present in nearly every city. However, they also found 10,928 viruses and 748 bacteria species that are not known to science.
Overall, they found 4,246 known species of microbes. Most of them were bacteria. They also found that each city had a unique combination of microbes.
About half of the 31 bacteria species (found in all places) are commonly found in humans, especially on the skin. Others live in dirt, water and dust.
The scientists say that the mysterious microbes are most likely not a danger. Most of the viruses could be the ones that affect bacteria, not humans.
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