Scientists from the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) in Pune have named three new microbes that grow on mobile phone screens.

The study funded by the Department of Biotechnology identified a fungal and two bacterial species that have never been cited in scientific literature.

In 2015, scientists from the University of Southern California reported that there are three bacterial types found on toilet seats. However, the latest findings suggest that mobile phones carry at least 10 to 12 types of microbes.

A team headed by Yogesh Shouche collected microbial samples from 27 phone screens using sterile cotton swabs. They isolated 515 bacteria and 28 fungi on a culture media placed at 30 degrees centigrade. The researchers explained that the presence of multiple microorganisms on phone is due to their exposure to grime, sweat, and different environments.

Surprisingly, three new microbial species were identified which include a fungus called Pyrenochaeta telephoni and two bacteria; Microbacterium telephonicum and Lysinbacillus telephonicus.

Co-author of the study Praveen Rahi said that the microorganisms identified are not harmful and commonly grow on human bodies. "In the samples they collected none of them have the highly dangerous pathogenic microbes like Staphylococcus aureus, the most common multi-drug resistant superbug," Rahi said. However, he clarified that mobile phones of health care workers which may carry drug-resistant microbes were not actively sampled.

There are currently 900 million handsets in India which make the country a haven for microorganisms. In fact, a reply from the Minister of Health Faggan Singh Kulaste last month stated that 8 out of 10 handsets serve as home for harmful bacteria. "The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that in a recent study conducted by Pal et al. in 2015, on 386 participants, it was found that 81.8 percent mobile phones and 80 percent hand swabs showed bacterial pathogen growth," the minister said.

To prevent microbial growth, researchers recommended regular disinfection of mobile phone using a cloth dampened with soap water, sanitizers or other cleaning liquid.