‘Hungry’ bacteria release harmful toxins

Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Princeton University, and Danisco Animal Nutrition conducted a study. It suggests that bacteria can experience something similar to what humans call “angry.” [i]

This study found that when certain bacteria are deprived of nutrients, they release toxins that can make humans sick. These findings may have broader implications. They could open up new possibilities for treatments and therapies for bacterial illnesses if replicated in other species. [i]

The researchers hope this study will lead to new treatments. These treatments could help reduce the toxins released by bacteria. Additionally, this study could help researchers understand how bacteria respond to a lack of nutrients. [ii]

The team employed probe-based bacterial sequencing to read and analyze RNA molecules from thousands of bacteria. These included Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Clostridium perfringens. [ii]

Probe-based bacterial sequencing is a technique. It uses a probe, which is a small piece of DNA. The probe attaches to a specific region of a bacterial genome. Then, the technique reads the information encoded in the RNA molecules. [iii]

Clostridium perfringens is one of the most common causes of food poisoning and is found in many food sources. It is also known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. [iii]

The researchers conducted a study on the bacterium Clostridium perfringens, which is known to cause food poisoning in humans. To their surprise, they discovered that even within a single bacterial community, genetically identical cells could have different functions. Some of these cells produced toxins that made people sick when ingested. [iv]

The team conducted research. They identified a subpopulation of C. perfringens. This subpopulation produces and releases the netB toxin, even when acetate is absent. [iv]

This finding has important implications for understanding how bacterial communities function and survive in different environments. Furthermore, it could lead to the development of more effective treatments for bacterial infections. [v]

The research conducted by Professor Rosenthal and his team revealed that certain nutrients significantly impact bacterial toxicity levels. This discovery could lead to new treatments for bacterial infections that do not require antibiotics. [v]

The team is continuing its research into the behaviors of different bacterial communities. Professor Rosenthal hopes to use the findings to tackle the problem of antibiotic tolerance. In addition, we can better understand how nutrients affect bacterial toxicity. [vi]

This understanding could lead to alternative treatments for bacterial infections that are more effective than antibiotics. This could help reduce antibiotic overuse, which is one of the significant causes of antibiotic resistance. [vi]

References

[i] Ryan McNulty et al., Probe-based bacterial single-cell RNA sequencing predicts toxin regulation (Apr. 3, 2023)

[ii] Id.

[iii] Huang, K. C., Applications of imaging for bacterial systems biology. Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 27, 114–120 (2015).

[iv] Id.

[v] Ryan McNulty et al., Probe-based bacterial single-cell RNA sequencing predicts toxin regulation (Apr. 3, 2023)

[vi] Id.