Some bacteria have evolved to live in one of the most hostile environments imaginable: inside the venom glands of snakes, spiders and scorpions. As well as highlighting how adaptable microorganisms are, the finding also suggests that antibiotics should be used more to help treat snakebites.

People who have been bitten by snakes often suffer infections , but this was thought to be an incidental consequence of having an open wound that has been inside the snake’s mouth. The venom itself is highly toxic so was assumed to be …