Zombie Bacteria!

Bacteria might be tiny, but their behavior is anything but boring. When you take a closer look under a microscope, these microscopic organisms reveal an incredible range of movement, creating swirls and streaks as they cluster together to form mesmerizing colony patterns. This synchronized dance, known as "swarming," has fascinated microbiologists for decades. Researchers have long been intrigued by the complexity of these patterns, which vary from one bacterial species to another, and they’ve worked tirelessly to decode the hidden language behind these movements.

Back in 2008, scientists Ingham and Ben-Jacobs made a breakthrough by capturing swarming in action, tracking mutant cells through time-lapse photography. For the first time, they were able to quantify the speed and movement of different bacterial subgroups, giving us our first glimpse into the precise mechanics of bacterial swarming.

But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, it gets even more intriguing. Recent studies have uncovered that these swarming bacteria aren’t just putting on a show — they’re also sending signals to one another, activating antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the process. And here’s the real kicker: they can even do this after they’re dead! Yes, you read that right. Dead bacteria can still communicate with their living neighbors, a discovery that’s blowing the minds of microbiologists everywhere.

This phenomenon, called "necrosignaling," is exactly what it sounds like: bacteria sending out distress signals from beyond the grave. Scientists Bhattacharyya, Walker, and Harshey found that when certain bacteria die, they release a substance called AcrA, which triggers a response in nearby living cells. This response kicks off a chain reaction where AcrA interacts with a protein called TolC on the surface of live cells, ramping up the bacteria's drug resistance.

These findings are more than just cool science trivia—they could have major implications in medicine, potentially leading to new ways of tackling bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance. It’s a discovery that opens up a whole new avenue of research, with bacteria proving once again that there's so much more going on beneath the surface than we ever imagined.

References:

1. Arnaud, C. H. Bacteria send signals from beyond the grave. Chemical and Engineering News, Aug 29, 2020

2. Fessenden, M. Show me your moves. Scientist 2015, 29 (5), 62-65

3. Bhattacharyya, S. Walker, D. M. Harsher, R. M. Dead cells release a ‘necrosignal’ that activates antibiotics