00:00A new study offers a surprising twist to our daily routines.
00:03The morning coffee that so many of us depend on for energy
00:07might be quietly weakening the antibiotics we rely on to fight infections.
00:13Researchers from the University of Tübingen and Wolfsburg,
00:16led by Professor Anurita Bruchado,
00:19have uncovered how everyday ingredients,
00:21including the caffeine found in your cup of coffee,
00:24can influence bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics
00:28that we take to treat infections.
00:31Now, the study focused on Esterechia coli or E. coli for short.
00:35This is a very common bacterium.
00:36Sometimes it can also turn into a dangerous pathogen.
00:40Now, scientists, what they did is they examined
00:42how 94 different substances interact with E. coli at the genetic level.
00:48That included antibiotics, prescription drugs
00:50and common food ingredients like caffeine.
00:54What they found is really fascinating and a little worrying also.
00:57Bacteria control the movement of substances in and out of their cells
01:01using tiny structures called transport proteins.
01:04Now, these proteins are like security guards of the bacterial world.
01:07They manage which chemicals get through the walls of the bacteria.
01:11The balance of these protein guards is crucial for bacteria's survival.
01:15Now, the researchers discovered that many common substances
01:18can subtly but consistently change the way these proteins work
01:23by turning certain genes on or off.
01:27In E. coli, caffeine acts a bit like secret coal.
01:30Caffeine triggers a chain reaction,
01:32starting with a gene regulator called ROB.
01:34This then changes several transport proteins.
01:36The final results, E. coli lets in less of some antibiotics,
01:40such as Ciprofloxacin, a medicine used to treat infections.
01:45Now, Professor Bruchado describes this as an antagonist interaction.
01:48That means caffeine and some antibiotics are at odds with each other inside the body.
01:54If E. coli is exposed to caffeine,
01:56it may become less sensitive to antibiotics that doctors use to treat infections.
02:03Now, this does not mean that coffee or caffeine destroys antibiotics.
02:08But it could make certain antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin
02:11less effective against bacteria like E. coli.
02:14Interestingly, not all bacteria respond in the same way.
02:16When researchers looked at Salmonella enterica,
02:19a relative of E. coli and a very well-known cause of food poisoning,
02:23they did not see the same weakening effect.
02:25So, even closely related bacteria can act very differently
02:28depending on what chemicals they meet.
02:31What does this really mean for patients and doctors?
02:33Well, the research highlights the idea of low-level resistance.
02:37This isn't the dramatic form of antibiotic resistance
02:39caused by mutant genes,
02:41but a subtle and adaptable response to the environment.
02:44Everyday choices, what we eat and drink,
02:47could have real effects on medical treatments.
02:50President Karla Polman of the University of Tübingen,
02:52who commented on the findings,
02:54says that this research demonstrates just how vital it is
02:57to consider all the factors in our daily lives.
02:59It could affect future treatment strategies,
03:02including which foods or drinks should be avoided
03:05when taking antibiotics
03:06and spark new ideas for combining medicines
03:09or dietary guidelines.
03:11So, next time when you sip your coffee while on antibiotics,
03:14remember your daily habits may be quietly shaping the battle
03:18between germs and medicines.
03:20Understanding these subtle battles could be crucial
03:22in protecting our health for the future.
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