In a new study, biologists from the University of Texas at Austin have discovered multi-generational memory in the swarming movement of E. coli. They found that E. coli uses iron levels in its cells to store information about different behaviors, which can then be activated in response to specific stimuli.

American researchers have made an interesting discovery: E.coli bacteria, which are also present in human intestinal flora, can create “memories” about when it is time to develop strategies that can cause serious infections. Such a strategy is, for example, antibiotic resistance or the formation of bacterial swarms, when millions of bacteria gather on a single surface.

Scientists have previously observed that descendants of previously swarming bacteria (large groups of which have migrated to the surface) can improve swarming performance. A research team from the University of Texas wondered how this happened. Because bacteria do not have a brain, neurons, synapses, or nervous system, memories are not the same as those in humans. Instead, they retain “memories” similar to data saved on a computer, and by storing iron levels, the researchers discovered. This special storage system allows bacteria to modify their behavior based on past conditions, such as antibiotic resistance or swarming, and can also optimize their future performance based on these conditions.

Experiments showed that memory of previous behavior, which is linked to the internal iron level of bacteria, is inherited by subsequent generations through epigenetic marks, for at least four generations, and fades by the seventh generation. (Epigenetics is a form of gene inheritance that does not involve changes in DNA sequences.)

If bacteria repeatedly encounter a particular environment, they can store relevant information and quickly access it later. This means that the organism functionally “remembers” what to do when its internal environment changes. The explanation for this phenomenon is iron. This element varies between bacteria. The researchers hypothesize that when iron levels are low, bacterial memories are activated and form a fast-moving migratory swarm searching for iron in the environment. When iron levels are high, memories indicate that this environment is a good place for biofilms to bind and form. Meanwhile, balanced iron levels appear to contribute to antibiotic tolerance.

The role of iron is not surprising. “Before there was oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere, early cellular life used iron in many cellular processes. Iron is important not only in the origin of life on Earth, but also in the evolution of life. It makes sense for cells to use it in this way,” says the lead researcher.

the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The observations published in the journal could be important in the fight against bacteria, especially antibiotic-resistant pathogens, especially since iron is an important factor in virulence.

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