When bacterial infection poses a problem, bring on the Zombies, say researchers

In Missouri, a team of researchers are urging that “Zombie Bacteria Are Nothing to Be Afraid Of”. Well, that’s a relief. What are Zombie Bacteria, anyway? In eukaryotic cells such as those in plants and animals, an elaborate molecular circuitry coordinates duplication and separation of genetic material with division, much as the control knob on a washing machine coordinates agitation, rinsing and spinning. And the cellular control system, like the washing machine control system, has sensors that detect anomalies and shut things down if something is wrong.

Turns out that bacteria — which also have DNA — have at least two fail-safe points in the bacterial cell cycle that tie DNA replication to cell division. A cell that stumbles at either division or DNA replication can repair itself and re-enter the cell cycle. But if it does not do so quickly, the fail-safes are activated, forcing the cell to exit the cell cycle forever. It then enters a zombie-like state and is unable to reproduce even under the most favorable of conditions.

Now, what about taking advantage of that, in terms of the advanced bioeconomy. The advantages in pharma aren’t difficult to image — drugs that drove bacteria past the point of no return would prevent them from proliferating, stalling an infection. Blocking DNA replication would prevent bacteria from sharing mutations that confer antibiotic resistance. But infections can plague biorefineries too — and there’s the opportunity for the industrial sector, to be able to wind down the replication of harmful bacteria. Stay tuned for more developments.