Living Gels: How Bacteria Form Twisting "Cables" in Mucus – A Breakthrough with Medical Implications
Scientists from Caltech and Princeton University have uncovered a remarkable phenomenon: when bacterial cells grow in polymer-rich fluids like mucus, they form long, twisting cables that entangle into a living, gel-like structure. Published in Science Advances (January 17), this discovery could revolutionize our understanding of infections in diseases like cystic fibrosis, where thickened lung mucus traps deadly bacteria.
Key Findings
"Living Jell-O": Non-motile bacteria (e.g., E. coli) in polymer solutions (like cystic fibrosis mucus) divide but remain stuck end-to-end, forming serpentine cables thousands of cells long.
Universal Behavior: Observed across bacterial species and polymer types—even synthetic ones.
Physics Behind It: External polymer pressure creates depletion interactions, forcing cells together (similar to processes in non-living gels like Jell-O).
Why It Matters
Cystic Fibrosis: Explains why infections persist in thickened mucus.
Biofilms: Sheds light on how bacteria build slimy, antibiotic-resistant colonies (e.g., dental plaque, industrial gunk).
Medical Paradox: Could cables help bacteria evade immune cells—or make them easier to expel via mucus clearance?
"This isn’t just about mucus," says Prof. Sujit Datta (Caltech). "It’s a new lens to study biofilms everywhere—from lungs to factory pipes."
Next Steps
Test if cables protect or weaken bacteria in vivo.
Develop strategies to disrupt cable formation in infections.
#ScienceBreakthrough #CysticFibrosisResearch #Biofilms
Reference:
Sebastian Gonzalez La Corte et al, Morphogenesis of bacterial cables in polymeric environments, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq7797. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq7797
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