Will sloth be humanity’s next great superhero?

The sloth is considered one of the cutest animals in nature, but it can be so much more than cute — maybe he will be humanity’s next great superhero.

In a study published in the scientific journal Environmental Microbiology, Researchers at the University of Costa Rica sloths could be key to developing antibiotics to fight drug-resistant bacteria.

Scientists collected bacterial communities from the fur of animals and samples from other living organisms. Feathers were collected between the toes of sloths from the species Choloepus Hoffmanni and Bradypus variegatus living at The Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica – they have two and three toes, respectively.

Scientists analyzing the samples, The wide variety of organisms that live on sloth fur has the potential to control serious bacterial infections.. Samples were collected from only two of the six species living in the Central and South American tropics.

“The most abundant breed [de bactérias] Brevibacterium were Kocuria/Rothia, Staphylococcus, Rubrobacter, Nesterenkonia and Janibacter. In addition, we isolated nine Brevibacterium and Rothia strains capable of producing substances that inhibit the growth of common mammalian pathogens”, described in the research abstract.

Sloths against bacteria

As the scientists explain in the study, organisms found in sloths can act as a defense against the proliferation of superbugs and inhibit the evolution of pathogens in mammals. For example, found nine strains of Brevibacterium and Rothia bacteria that help reduce the proliferation of pathogens.

The research data shows that another team of bacteria, called Micrococcales, plays an important role in controlling microbial populations in this habitat. No wonder sloths are considered excellent habitats for different insects and algae, such as the sloth moth (Cryptoses Choloepi), which is responsible for creating the perfect environment for algae – this insect feeds on the secretions of the sloth’s skin and lays eggs in your feces.

The survey has been done since 2020, but Scientists say it will take some more time for bacteria to be used safely in drug production. They even argue that since there are limitations to studying animals raised in captivity, they should analyze bacterial communities living in wild species.

“This modulation makes it possible to control the proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacteria for the host or to inhibit other competitors in the niche (e.g. fungi). On the other hand, our results point to sloth skin as a source of new antibiotic-producing bacteria that could open up the opportunity for the discovery of new bioactive molecules.” explains the team responsible for the study.