Bacteria found to store and pass on ‘memories’ for generations

This news has been read 522 times!

NEW YORK, Nov 22, (Agencies)L Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding bacterial behavior, revealing that bacteria can exhibit a form of memory related to the timing of adopting strategies leading to harmful infections. This includes developing resistance to antibiotics and forming bacterial swarms. The study, focusing on E. coli bacteria, highlights the role of iron levels in storing and passing along this information to subsequent generations.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research builds on previous observations of bacteria improving swarming performance based on prior experiences. Despite lacking neurons, synapses, or nervous systems, bacteria can store information akin to a computer’s memory. Souvik Bhattacharyya, the lead author and a provost early career fellow at UT, explains that bacteria, devoid of brains, can gather information from their environment, storing and quickly accessing it for their benefit.

The research underscores the significance of iron, a common and abundant element on Earth, in influencing bacterial behavior. The study found that bacterial cells with lower iron levels exhibited enhanced swarming capabilities. In contrast, bacteria forming biofilms, dense mats of bacteria on solid surfaces, had higher iron levels. Those with antibiotic tolerance displayed balanced iron levels. Notably, these iron memories persisted for at least four generations but disappeared by the seventh.

Bhattacharyya points out the historical importance of iron in early cellular life on Earth and its critical role in the evolution of life. The findings suggest that iron levels could be targeted for therapeutics due to their importance in bacterial virulence. Understanding bacterial behavior better holds the key to developing effective strategies to combat infections.

This news has been read 522 times!