Gangajal

Until now, it was believed that the healing properties of the Ganga were merely the stuff of myths. However, scientists from the Institute of Microbial Technology (Imtech), Chandigarh, have for the first time come forward with scientific evidence that the water of Ganga does not putrefy easily . They have identified new viruses, or bacteriophages, which mimic bacteria in the river's sediment and eat them up.
The scientific world has always been baffled by the antiseptic properties of Ganga's waters. In 1896, British physician E Hanbury Hankin observed that cholera microbes died within three hours in its water, but thrived in distilled water even after 48 hours. This remained hypothetical until Imtech experts found the new viruses which, in effect, make the water a disinfectant.
Imtech is one of the laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Scientists say the bacteriophages get their nutrients from decomposing bodies and other waste dumped into the river.The study has revealed 20 to 25 types of bacteriophages in the river which can fight microorganisms that cause diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia, cholera and urinary tract infection, among others. “We analyzed the viral metagenomes in sediments of the Ganga and found different types of phages, said Dr Shanmugam Mayilraj, senior principal scientist and professor at Imtech.
He said the sediments house several novel viruses, which were never reported earlier. These are active against certain bacterial strains and can be used against multi-drug resistant infections. “Bacteriophages we re represented by the order Caudovirales which shared the 57% of the total viral community . Further analysis showed the presence of families Siphoviridae, Podoviridae and Myoviridae,“ said Mayilraj.
The team collected pre monsoon and post-monsoon samples from the highly polluted Haridwar-Varanasi stretch. Also part of the project were Nagpur-based National Environment Engineering Research Institute co-ordinating lab, National Botanical Research Institute, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, all in Lucknow. The consolidated report of all these laboratories would be submitted to the water resources ministry by December.