In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from Washington State University and the University of Oregon have uncovered what they term as ‘bacterial vampirism‘ – a phenomenon where certain types of bacteria are attracted to human blood, potentially leading to fatal infections.
Published in the journal eLife, the study elucidates how these deadly bacteria are drawn to serum, the fluid component of blood, due to the nutrients and energy it offers. This poses a significant risk for individuals with irritable bowel disease (IBD), where intestinal bleeding provides a pathway for gut bacteria to enter the bloodstream. However, these findings also offer insights into novel treatment strategies.
Microbiologist Arden Baylink from Washington State University emphasizes the gravity of bloodstream infections caused by bacteria: “Bacteria infecting the bloodstream can be lethal. We learned some of the bacteria that most commonly cause bloodstream infections actually sense a chemical in human blood and swim toward it.”
Utilizing a custom device for injecting minute fluid volumes and a powerful microscope, the researchers analyzed the interaction between bacteria and blood. They observed that strains of three bacteria – Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter koseri – known for causing fatal infections, exhibit attraction to human serum.
Moreover, the team identified serine, an amino acid, as one of the chemicals bacteria can detect and consume through specific protein receptors.
Remarkably, this bacterial response occurs swiftly, with bacteria detecting the presence of blood in less than a minute and moving towards it.
These bacteria, belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, have been associated with conditions such as gastrointestinal bleeding and sepsis, particularly in cases of IBD. The bacteria seem to exploit internal bleeding associated with IBD, potentially leading to fatalities.
Given these insights into how bacteria sense and utilize blood serum, future treatments could target this mechanism to save lives. Immunologist Siena Glenn from Washington State University highlights the possibility of developing drugs to block bacteria’s ability to detect blood sources.
This discovery opens avenues for innovative therapeutic interventions, promising hope for combating bloodstream infections and associated complications effectively.
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