Gut microbes are known to be extremely sensitive to even Low Doses of antibiotics and such low doses are routinely found in the environment. Using three-dimensional microscopy in transparent zebrafish, researchers found that exposure to ciprofloxacin dramatically affect the gut bacteria.

Researchers found that in presence of the antibiotic, bacteria, which are usually fast swimming, develop sluggish behaviour and form aggregates. Further, bacteria that normally, aggregate in dense colonies, end up forming even larger colonies.

This zebrafish model could help us provide a framework to understand the effects of antibiotics in both humans as well as animals.

Read the full story: University of Oregon (via ScienceDaily)
Scientific publication: PNAS