UC San Diego scientists developed a new technology that specifically targets one type of cell among genetically identical bacteria that live in the same microenvironment. They discovered that a second-long shock emitted by an electrode (dark circle in the center), preferentially causes growth of (orange) motile cells, rather than (blue) matrix-producing cells, thereby changing the ratio of cell types in the community.
Credit: Süel Lab, UC San Diego
Scientists find that electrical shocks can change the types of cells in bacterial communities, offering a new approach to precisely control bacteria
Clusters of microscopic bacteria exist all around us. These invisible communities, known as biofilms, are found in habitats ranging from our skin surface to sewer pipes and play integral roles in environments spanning healthcare to agriculture.
Molecular biologists and physicists at the University of California San Diego have joined forces to develop a novel method of using electrical shocks to control the development of communities of bacteria. Their findings, obtained with a newly developed technology, are significant from a medical perspective. In areas where bacteria growth is a concern, biofilms can lead to chronic infections, especially in locations such as hospitals where antibiotic resistance is a major health threat.
Much like other multi-cellular organisms, biofilms are composed of various cell types that carry out specialized roles. For example, matrix-producing cells provide the structural “glue” that holds the bacterial community together while motile cells play a role in the formation and spread of biofilms. The balance of these two cell types defines the physical and biological properties of the biofilm and is also important for its development. If there are too many matrix-producing cells, the biofilm becomes too rigid and cannot grow efficiently. If there are too many motile cells, the biofilm disintegrates as the cells swim away. Thus, changing the ratio of these two cell types offers a precise method for controlling biofilms.
As described May 4, 2022 in the journal Cell Systems, a team at UC San Diego with postdoctoral scholar Colin Comerci and fellow researchers in the laboratory of Professor Gürol Süel in the Department of Molecular Biology, along with colleagues in the Department of Physics, developed a novel microfluidic device and combined it with a multi-electrode array, which allowed them to apply localized electric shocks to a growing biofilm.
To the researchers’ surprise, electrical stimulation caused motile cells to multiply, even though all cells in the biofilm are genetically identical.
“While it is known that electrical shocks can kill cells, here we show that they can cause growth of a specific sub-type of cells,” said Süel, a Biological Sciences professor with affiliations in the San Diego Center for Systems Biology, BioCircuits Institute and Center for Microbiome Innovation. “How a second-long stimulation can promote growth for hours and only of one type of cells is a great puzzle that we are eager to solve.”
“Being able to modulate cell types in this way is not just important for understanding biofilms,” said Comerci. “The electrochemical signals we used are similar to signals used during development in more complicated organisms like frogs, fish or even humans. Thus, our findings may offer analogies to other biological systems.”
Why electrical stimulation boosts the population of one cell type rather than another remains a mystery and continues to be studied at the Süel laboratory. Such influence, the researchers say, provides control of the biofilm’s composition and development, and may offer a new tool to destabilize biofilms in healthcare and agriculture settings.
Original Article: Researchers Manipulate Demographic of Bacterial Community with Novel Electronic Technology
More from: University of California San Diego
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Controlling biofilms
- Freshness matters: Study finds newer honey packs a stronger antibacterial punch
Researchers reveal that the antibacterial potency of Hungarian honeys, including their effectiveness against respiratory pathogens, declines with storage time, emphasizing the need for fresh sources ...
- Hulu to Remove 71 Titles In May - Here's the 5 You Should Watch Before They Leave
Leaving May 31. Elvis (2022) Austin Butler is sensational as the King of Rock n’ Roll in this raucous Baz Luhrmann-directed biofilm which chronicles Presley’s rise and fall. Tom Hanks plays Colonel ...
- Researchers find that calcium can protect potato plants from bacterial wilt
Scientists have discovered that calcium plays a significant role in enhancing the resistance of potato plants to bacterial wilt. This disease causes worldwide losses of potatoes costing $19 billion ...
- Artificial sweetener neotame may have potential to damage gut, lead to IBS
The artificial sweetener neotame, which is derived from aspartame, may damage healthy cells in the human intestinal tract, potentially leading to irritable bowel syndrome, according to a new study.
- Solved! What Is the Pink Mold in My Shower, and How Do I Get Rid of It?
To prevent new biofilm from forming, stick to a cleaning regimen and take the following steps to control moisture. Margaret Foley is an editor, educator, and writer based in New York City who has ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Controlling biofilms
[google_news title=”” keyword=”controlling biofilms” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Electrical stimulation of cells
- Experimental spinal cord implant helps Parkinson’s patient walk in new study
Marc Gauthier can now step into an elevator without his body stiffening and freezing in place. He can take a 3-mile lakeside stroll without stopping. He can stand up out of a chair with ease. For ...
- When Happy Pills Fail, This Treatment May Help You Turn a Corner
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive in-office procedure. Brief magnetic pulses to the brain induces electrical currents that stimulate nerve cells in specific areas of the brain, ...
- Breakthrough paves the way for next generation of vision implants
A group of researchers have created an exceptionally small implant, with electrodes the size of a single neuron that can also remain intact in the body over time -- a unique combination that holds ...
- Brief electrical pulse may help in hemophilia gene therapies: Study
Scientists say brief electrical pulses may help liver cells to better take up virus-mediated gene therapies in diseases like hemophilia.
- Swallowable sensor unfurls in stomach to monitor gut health
A ribbon of electrodes could nestle in the gut to help diagnose gastrointestinal diseases linked to Parkinson’s ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Electrical stimulation of cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”electrical stimulation of cells” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]