Can We Engineer Solutions That Stop Pathogens In Their Tracks?

Researchers have discovered that when bacteria like E. coli are exposed to antibiotics one after another, not all the cells respond in the same way. Some cells enter a dormant, low-energy state and survive by “hunkering down,” while others keep their motors running, powered by what’s called the proton motive force (PMF), allowing them to swim even during antibiotic attack. These energetic swimmers can survive the treatment and start dividing once the antibiotics are gone—without having genetic resistance. This finding reveals that bacterial populations can use a variety of survival tactics at once, which helps explain why some infections are so hard to get rid of and points to new approaches for combating antibiotic resistance in the future. 

Scientists have discovered how Helicobacter pylori– a Class 1 carcinogen linked to peptic ulcers and gastric cancers – is attracted by urea and other molecules present in the stomach environment. Pylori, like many other bacteria, swim using rotary appendages called flagella. They alternate between forward runs and frequent reversals, which can partially negate their net displacement toward target molecules. However, H. pylori exhibit a distinctive asymmetry: they swim faster in the forward direction and slower when they reverse. This mechanistic insight is now helping researchers design urea-based H. pylori traps that lure and neutralize these harmful microbes. The work reveals how chemical cues in host environments can broadly influence bacterial behavior and may inform future approaches to eradicate pathogenic microbes.

Scientists have discovered that bacteria like E. coli can fine-tune how they swim based on the “viscosity” or resistance to movement in their environment. When bacteria face a heavier viscous load as they move, their tiny motors recruit more helper units called stators. This mechanical feedback encourages more of a signaling protein, CheY-P, to bind to the motor, allowing the bacteria to keep switching swimming direction—even in challenging conditions. This smart system helps bacteria stay on track in different environments, much like how animal muscles adjust to new surfaces. Understanding this mechanism gives us new insight into how single-celled organisms adapt and thrive in varying surroundings.