Researchers at Washington State University have actually determined a “bacterial vampirism” where lethal germs feed upon human blood serum, using new insights into blood stream infections and potential treatments for at-risk people. (Artists principle.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comSome of the worlds most dangerous germs look for and feed on human blood, a recently discovered phenomenon scientists are calling “bacterial vampirism.”A team led by Washington State University researchers has actually discovered the germs are attracted to the liquid part of blood, or serum, which consists of nutrients the germs can utilize as food. Among the chemicals the germs appeared especially drawn to was serine, an amino acid discovered in human blood that is also a common active ingredient in protein drinks.The research finding, released in the journal eLife, provides brand-new insights into how bloodstream infections take place and might potentially be treated.Washington State University researcher Arden Baylink holds a petri meal consisting of salmonella germs. Baylink and PhD student Siena Glenn have published research study showing that a few of the worlds most dangerous bacteria look for out and eat serum, the liquid part of human blood, which consists of nutrients the germs can utilize as food. Credit: Ted S. Warren, Washington State University College of Veterinary MedicineBacteria Studied and Experimentation”Bacteria infecting the blood stream can be lethal,” said Arden Baylink, a professor at WSUs College of Veterinary Medicine and corresponding author for the research study. “We learned a few of the bacteria that many commonly cause blood stream infections really notice a chemical in human blood and swim toward it.”Baylink and the lead author on the study, WSU Ph.D. trainee Siena Glenn, found at least 3 kinds of germs, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter koseri, are attracted to human serum. These bacteria are a leading cause of death for people who have inflammatory bowel illness (IBD), about 1% of the population. These patients typically have intestinal bleeding that can be an entry points for the germs into the bloodstream.Siena Glenn, a Washington State University Ph.D. student utilizes a high-powered microscopic lense. Glenn, dealing with Assistant Professor Arden Baylink and colleagues, has released research study revealing that some of the worlds most dangerous germs seek out and consume serum, the liquid part of human blood. Credit: Ted S. Warren, Washington State University College of Veterinary MedicineUsing a high-powered microscope system designed by Baylink called the Chemosensory Injection Rig Assay, the scientists simulated intestinal bleeding by injecting microscopic amounts of human serum and watching as the bacteria navigated toward the source. The response is quick– it takes less than a minute for the disease-causing bacteria to find the serum.Potential for New TreatmentsAs part of the research study, the researchers determined Salmonella has a special protein receptor called Tsr that enables germs to sense and swim toward serum. Utilizing a technique called protein crystallography, they had the ability to view the atoms of the protein communicating with serine. The scientists believe serine is one of the chemicals from the blood that the germs sense and consume.”By learning how these bacteria are able to spot sources of blood, in the future we might establish brand-new drugs that block this ability. These medications could improve the lives and health of people with IBD who are at high danger for bloodstream infections,” Glenn said.Reference: “Bacterial vampirism moderated through taxis to serum” by Siena J. Glenn, Zealon Gentry-Lear, Michael Shavlik, Michael J. Harms, Thomas J. Asaki and Arden Baylink, 16 April 2024, eLife.DOI: 10.7554/ eLife.93178.2 The study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“A team led by Washington State University researchers has found the germs are brought in to the liquid part of blood, or serum, which consists of nutrients the germs can utilize as food. One of the chemicals the germs seemed especially drawn to was serine, an amino acid discovered in human blood that is also a common component in protein drinks.The research finding, released in the journal eLife, offers brand-new insights into how blood stream infections take place and might possibly be treated.Washington State University researcher Arden Baylink holds a petri meal containing salmonella germs. Baylink and PhD trainee Siena Glenn have released research study revealing that some of the worlds deadliest germs look for out and eat serum, the liquid part of human blood, which includes nutrients the bacteria can use as food.
