Synthetic materials tweak bacterial communication
12 Nov 2013
Synthetic polymers have the capability to manipulate the way in which bacteria communicates with each other, according to research.
In a study led by scientists from The University of Nottingham (UON), it found that artificial materials based on synthetic polymers were able to arrange bacteria into clustered communities which encouraged the bacteria to actively “communicate” together through quorum sensing.
“The finding] gives us information about how to design artificial cells and to produce materials that will interact with microorganisms
Prof Cameron Alexander
As part of the study, researchers used the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi, as it allowed them to track the changes in the bacteria’s behaviour by measuring the pattern and intensity of the natural light produced by the organism.
The team were able to build computational models predicting and explaining the microbial behaviour which led to the possibility of a programmable interaction of bacteria and polymers.
Lead scientist on the study Prof Cameron Alexander said: “[The finding] gives us more information about how to design artificial cells and to produce materials that will interact with microorganisms and control their behaviour, with a whole host of potential applications including drug discovery and energy production.”
As well as the potential benefits of using artificial polymers to prevent the release of toxins during the spread of infection, Prof Alexander said the technique could also be used in the production of molecules which can act as drugs, a food source or in biofuels.
The paper, Bacteria clustering by polymers induces the expression of quorum sense controlled phenotypes, is available online on the Nature Chemistry website.
