Bacteria Breaks Down Caffeine as Food

Researchers at the University of Iowa in the US have discovered a new bacteria that is capable of breaking down caffeine and using it as its food, a finding that will have positive implications in the development of inexpensive versions of critical drugs to treat asthma and blood arrhythmias. The bacterium called Pseudomonas putida CBB5 uses some digestive enzymes to break down caffeine, which helps the bacteria sustain and grow.

"We have isolated a new caffeine-degrading bacterium, which breaks caffeine down into carbon dioxide and ammonia," said Ryan Summers, a doctoral student who led the research.

The compounds formed during the caffeine break down can help as building blocks for many drugs which can be used to treat asthma, and heart arrhythmias.



Source-Medindia