Sea-ghosts settle,
their skin unravelling
into the water’s clasp.
What was held
loosens,
sifts,
threads
itself into unseen hands.
In the bloom’s remains
small hungers gather
press against the broken matter,
turn it over –
a tide-work of exchanges
folded inside
and out.
Here, beneath
the slip of surface
something moves unseen,
carried forward
by the weight of what
was left behind.
This poem is inspired by recent research, which has found that decaying jellyfish blooms create hotspots for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Jellyfish blooms can disrupt marine ecosystems – but their role in spreading antimicrobial resistance is often overlooked. When these blooms collapse, they release organic material that fuels bacterial growth, creating ideal conditions for microbes to interact and exchange genes. Some bacteria carry antimicrobial resistance genes, which allow them to survive antibiotics that would normally kill them. If these genes spread to harmful bacteria, infections in humans and animals can become harder to treat.
This research found that jellyfish-derived organic matter significantly increases antimicrobial resistance gene abundance in marine bacteria. Bacteria exposed to this material carried far more resistance genes and mobile genetic elements – DNA that helps spread resistance. The study identified vibrio bacteria, some of which can cause disease, as key players in this process. By linking jellyfish blooms to antimicrobial resistance spread, these findings highlight an emerging environmental and public health risk – reinforcing the deep connection between ocean and human health.
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