Dangerous bacteria are trained in the water

C for bacteria. Eutrophication can train more disease-causing bacteria to survive. Photo: Coast Guard

NResearch from Umeå University shows that pathogenic bacteria have the ability to develop resistance by living in lakes and seas. The process can be accelerated by eutrophication.

In the current study, researcher Peter Mathisen demonstrates the existence of a relationship between the spread of some diseases that affect land mammals and water in seas and lakes. One of these ailments is the harp caused by bacteria Francisco Tullarnesis. It can like other disease-causing bacteria Francisco Tullarnesis It survives inside the host animal’s cells and is resistant to so-called macrophages in the immune system.

Francisella tularensis is attacked by macrophages. Photo: NIAID

Current research shows that the ability of bacteria to survive a macrophage attack can be augmented by the fact that the bacteria also live in water. There they are subjected to similar predation pressure, but then from single-celled bacteriostatic organisms called protozoa. The way protozoans eat bacteria is similar to that of macrophages, so the bacteria develop resistance to predation in the water, increasing their ability to survive on land.

The process is accelerated in seas and lakes that are affected by the feed. They contain a lot of nutrients that lead to the growth of bacteria. This benefits the protozoa, which are also increasing in number. Consequently, bacteria are increasingly being trained to survive attacks and develop resistance.

Read more about studying Here.

Read the full letter Here.

Hans Hillman