430: Dextrose Deposits Delay Dormancy

This episode: Bacteria that can store sugar as glycogen have
multiple advantages when food is only available sporadically!


Download Episode (7.2 MB, 10.4 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Carnivore bocaparvovirus 3

Takeaways




Almost all habitats experience some sort of change and
fluctuation; very few are totally stable, depending on the
timeframe. So strategies to change and adapt with changing
conditions can greatly help an organism thrive. For example,
methods of storing energy are helpful when food is only
available sporadically.


 


Some bacteria, like humans, can store sugar in a polymer
called glycogen, which can be quickly produced when food is
abundant and quickly broken down to ease a transition to
fasting. In this study, bacteria that could produce and use
glycogen were able to stay active longer and grow better in
the face of intermittent starvation. They were even better
able to acquire new food when more became available.


Journal Paper:
Sekar K, Linker SM, Nguyen J, Grünhagen A, Stocker R, Sauer U.
2020. Bacterial Glycogen Provides Short-Term Benefits in Changing
Environments. Appl Environ Microbiol 86.


Other interesting stories:



Bacteria can grow so well in spent nuclear fuel ponds, they
make the water cloudy

Certain probiotic bacteria might be able to degrade gluten
and protect people with celiac




 


Email questions or comments to bacteriofiles at gmail dot
com. Thanks for listening!


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