These microbes are decidedly un-magical

Thanks again, BP

Dr. Cova Arias, professor of Aquatic Microbiology at Auburn University, and two of her lab members had rather disturbing results published in the journal EcoHealth last December, 2011, on their discovery of high concentrations of Vibrio vulnificus, also known as a type of flesh-eating bacteria, in tarballs.

What is surprising is that Arias’ findings haven’t received more attention from public health officials, given the implications of the research. Findings involving V. vulnificus should be a concern for public health authorities in coastal areas, given that in addition to causing severe wound infections, this bacteria is the leading cause of seafood-borne fatalities nationwide.

While many media stories have focused on either bashing beach clean-up efforts in the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, or hushing up the story completely, Arias’ group has clear data from tarballs and other forms of weathered oil on beaches in Mississippi and Alabama that could be valuable information for public health and future health research efforts. Especially in the aftermath of several reported cases of flesh-eating bacterial infections contracted from beaches and water in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, and warnings from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals about flesh-eating bacteria found in Gulf waters, Arias’ findings are relevant and concerning.

Miracle Microbes

They make things vanish with no nasty side-effects

A newly discovered type of oil-eating microbe is suddenly flourishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists discovered the new microbe while studying the underwater dispersion of millions of gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf after the explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.

And the microbe works without significantly depleting oxygen in the water, researchers led by Terry Hazen at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif., reported Tuesday in the online journal Sciencexpress.

Okay well let's be open minded and put the fact that this research is funded by a $500 million BP grant on the back burner for just a minute. Is anyone else curious about this line?

Hazen suggested that the bacteria may have adapted over time because of periodic leaks and natural seeps of oil in the Gulf.

In other words, the miracle microbe exists because we dump so much oil into the Gulf. It's a classic counter-intuitive case of we-have-to-kill-the-ocean-to-save-it. Thanks, BP! I only hope these microbes are as delicious as they are beneficial.

Update: I wish someone would please figure out what kind of super-microbe is eating all the hurricanes this year. Probably an unexpected benefit of global warming, I'll bet.