Latest news with #AppliedandEnvironmentalMicrobiology
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Remarkable Life Form Conducts Electricity Like a Wire
Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis—a cable bacteria discovered along the coast of Oregon—has the remarkable ability to conduct electricity. According to researchers, this bacteria 'stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential.' This newly discovered bacteria could be ideal for a variety of bioelectric applications, including in the fields of medicine, industry, and environmental remediation (as the bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants). Today, human society is powered by the artificial electricity generated by turbines, nuclear reactors, and photovoltaics. But the very first investigations into the wonders of electricity were biological in origin. Thales of Miletus (considered to be the first scientist in the Western world) pondered on the cause of static electricity, and the electric prowess of eels inspired Alessandro Volta to invent the first battery. You and I are alive today because of the bioelectric field that permeates our cells. Although we've evolved from Volta's first fish-inspired battery, the world of bioelectricty still has a lot to offer us. That couldn't be more apparent than in a new study, published this week in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, which details the discovery of a new cable bacteria—built from rod-shaped cells attached end to end—on the central Oregon coast. Named Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis in honor of the Yaqo'n people on whose ancestral lands the discovery was made, this bacteria is particularly adept at conducting electricity. Because of their rod-shaped bodies, these cells create filaments that can stretch up to several centimeters in length. A rare feature among bacteria, Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis's conductivity likely arises from it's optimization of metabolic processes in their environment. 'This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments,' Cheng Li, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University and co-author of the study, said in a press statement. 'It stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential, and it has distinctive structural features, including pronounced surface ridges, up to three times wider than those seen in other species, that house highly conductive fibers made of unique, nickel-based molecules.' In other words, it's a bioelectric bacteria on steroids. This could make the bacteria particularly effective in a variety of fields, including medicine, industry, and environmental monitoring. However, its most exciting capability is its use as a tool for pollutant remediation. 'These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments,' Li said. 'Also, their design of a highly conductive nickel protein can possibly inspire new bioelectronics.' Remediation can be one of the most time-consuming and costly aspects of infrastructure projects—particularly if a former brownfield site hopes to be reclaimed as a park or another public space. Having bacteria that can actively clean up the soil thanks to its electric biology could be a huge boon for environmental efforts. Our understanding of electricity has come along way since Ancient Greece, but the biological world still has more than few electrifying tricks to teach us. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Discovered a Remarkable Lifeform That Conducts Electricity Like a Wire
Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis—a cable bacteria discovered along the coast of Oregon—has the remarkable ability to conduct electricity. According to researchers, this bacteria 'stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential.' This newly discovered bacteria could be ideal for a variety of bioelectric applications, including in the fields of medicine, industry, and environmental remediation (as the bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants). Today, human society is powered by the artificial electricity generated by turbines, nuclear reactors, and photovoltaics. But the very first investigations into the wonders of electricity were biological in origin. Thales of Miletus (considered to be the first scientist in the Western world) pondered on the cause of static electricity, and the electric prowess of eels inspired Alessandro Volta to invent the first battery. You and I are alive today because of the bioelectric field that permeates our cells. Although we've evolved from Volta's first fish-inspired battery, the world of bioelectricty still has a lot to offer us. That couldn't be more apparent than in a new study, published this week in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, which details the discovery of a new cable bacteria—built from rod-shaped cells attached end to end—on the central Oregon coast. Named Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis in honor of the Yaqo'n people on whose ancestral lands the discovery was made, this bacteria is particularly adept at conducting electricity. Because of their rod-shaped bodies, these cells create filaments that can stretch up to several centimeters in length. A rare feature among bacteria, Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis's conductivity likely arises from it's optimization of metabolic processes in their environment. 'This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments,' Cheng Li, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University and co-author of the study, said in a press statement. 'It stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential, and it has distinctive structural features, including pronounced surface ridges, up to three times wider than those seen in other species, that house highly conductive fibers made of unique, nickel-based molecules.' In other words, it's a bioelectric bacteria on steroids. This could make the bacteria particularly effective in a variety of fields, including medicine, industry, and environmental monitoring. However, its most exciting capability is its use as a tool for pollutant remediation. 'These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments,' Li said. 'Also, their design of a highly conductive nickel protein can possibly inspire new bioelectronics.' Remediation can be one of the most time-consuming and costly aspects of infrastructure projects—particularly if a former brownfield site hopes to be reclaimed as a park or another public space. Having bacteria that can actively clean up the soil thanks to its electric biology could be a huge boon for environmental efforts. Our understanding of electricity has come along way since Ancient Greece, but the biological world still has more than few electrifying tricks to teach us. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How microplastics may be stoking antibiotic resistance
(The Hill) — The microscopic shards of plastic found in every corner of the planet may be exacerbating antibiotic resistance, a new study has found. Bacteria exposed to these ubiquitous fragments, known as 'microplastics,' became resistant to multiple types of antibiotics commonly used to treat infections, researchers showed in the study, published on Tuesday in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. The authors expressed alarm about their discovery, particularly for people living in high-density, low-income places like refugee settlements, where plastic piles up and bacterial infections spread with ease. 'The fact that there are microplastics all around us, and even more so in impoverished places where sanitation may be limited, is a striking part of this observation,' senior author Muhammad Zaman, a professor of biomedical engineering at Boston University, said in a statement. Why 'excessive heat warnings' won't be part of the forecast The possibly greater risk among residents of disadvantaged communities 'underscores the need for more vigilance' and research into microplastic and bacterial interactions, Zaman added. About 4.95 million people worldwide die from antimicrobial-resistant infections each year, Zaman and his colleagues noted. Meanwhile, they explained that bacteria develop resistance not only due to the misuse of medications but also via the microscopic environments that surround them. As such, the researchers decided to test how a common bacterium, E. coli, would respond to being in a closed environment with microplastics. Ultimately, they found that the plastics provided a surface to which the bacteria could attach and colonize, lead author Neila Gross, a Boston University PhD candidate, said in a statement. Once attached, the bacteria created a biofilm: a sticky material that protects microbes from invaders and keeps them fixed to the surface, Gross explained. The microplastics, she continued, ended up supercharging the biofilms so much that when the scientists added in antibiotics, the medicine was unable to penetrate the shield. 'We found that the biofilms on microplastics, compared to other surfaces like glass, are much stronger and thicker, like a house with a ton of insulation,' Gross said. Even when the researchers tested different combinations of antibiotics and types of plastic material, they found that their results were consistent. 'The presence of plastics is doing a whole lot more than just providing a surface for the bacteria to stick — they are actually leading to the development of resistant organisms,' Zaman added. Going forward, the researchers said they plan to determine whether their findings would apply not just to the laboratory setting, but to the real world as well. For example, they voiced an interest in exploring whether microplastic-related antibiotic resistance is affecting refugee camps overseas. Climate change could be threatening satellites as they orbit in space: Study The authors also expressed their intentions to decipher the precise mechanisms that enable bacteria to maintain such a strong grasp on plastics. Gross hypothesized that the water-repellant properties of plastics might be allowing bacteria to attach themselves, but that over time, the materials could be taking in moisture and absorbing the antibiotics before they could reach the bacteria. Regardless of the way this resistance develops, Zaman focused on the notion that microplastic prevalence might be further endangering already underfunded health systems that serve refugee populations. 'Too often, these issues are viewed from a lens of politics or international relations or immigration, and all of those are important, but the story that is often missing is the basic science,' he said. 'We hope that this paper can get more scientists, engineers, and more researchers to think about these questions.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Microplastics may be stoking antibiotic resistance: Study
The microscopic shards of plastic found in every corner of the planet may be exacerbating antibiotic resistance, a new study has found. Bacteria exposed to these ubiquitous fragments, known as 'microplastics,' became resistant to multiple types of antibiotics commonly used to treat infections, researchers showed in the study, published on Tuesday in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. The authors expressed alarm about their discovery, particularly for people living in high-density, low-income places like refugee settlements, where plastic piles up and bacterial infections spread with ease. 'The fact that there are microplastics all around us, and even more so in impoverished places where sanitation may be limited, is a striking part of this observation,' said senior author Muhammad Zaman, a professor of biomedical engineering at Boston University, in a statement. The possibly greater risk among residents of disadvantaged communities 'underscores the need for more vigilance' and research into microplastic and bacterial interactions, Zaman added. About 4.95 million people worldwide die from antimicrobial-resistant infections each year, Zaman and his colleagues noted. Meanwhile, they explained bacteria develop resistance not only due to the misuse of medications, but also via the microscopic environments that surround them. As such, the researchers decided to test how a common bacterium, E. coli, would respond to being in a closed environment with microplastics. Ultimately, they found that the plastics provided a surface to which the bacteria could attach and colonize, said lead author Neila Gross, a Boston University Ph.D. candidate, in a statement. Once attached, the bacteria created a biofilm: a sticky material that protects microbes from invaders and keeps them fixed to the surface, Gross explained. The microplastics, she continued, ended up supercharging the biofilms so much that when the scientists added in antibiotics, the medicine was unable to penetrate the shield. 'We found that the biofilms on microplastics, compared to other surfaces like glass, are much stronger and thicker, like a house with a ton of insulation,' Gross said. Even when the researchers tested different combinations of antibiotics and types of plastic material, they found that their results were consistent. 'The presence of plastics is doing a whole lot more than just providing a surface for the bacteria to stick — they are actually leading to the development of resistant organisms,' Zaman added. Going forward, the researchers said they plan to determine whether their findings would apply not just to the laboratory setting, but to the real world as well. For example, they voiced an interest in exploring whether microplastic-related antibiotic resistance is affecting refugee camps overseas. The authors also expressed their intentions to decipher the precise mechanisms that enable bacteria to maintain such a strong grasp on plastics. Gross hypothesized that the water-repellant properties of plastics might be allowing bacteria to attach themselves, but that over time, the materials could be taking in moisture and absorbing the antibiotics before they could reach the bacteria. Regardless of the way this resistance develops, Zaman focused on the notion that microplastic prevalence might be further endangering already underfunded health systems that serve refugee populations. 'Too often, these issues are viewed from a lens of politics or international relations or immigration, and all of those are important, but the story that is often missing is the basic science,' he said. 'We hope that this paper can get more scientists, engineers, and more researchers to think about these questions.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
