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Bacteria Propel Themselves with Slime Jets

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ka-WHOOSH dept.

galactic_grub writes "Scientists have discovered that some bacteria propel themselves along using tiny jets of slime. According to this story on NewScientistTech, the researchers previously thought the slime was a lubricant. They believe the same technique could be used to move nano-devices around."

4 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Eating nanobots? by fbjon · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Is it just me or are there no comments in this story?

    In any case, how would the nanobots produce the propellant fluid, they'd have to be able to consume something? Perhaps they're counting taking in and storing some available fluid while passing through, like in the human blood stream, or somesuch.

    --
    True confidence comes not from realising you are as good as your peers, but that your peers are as bad as you are.
    1. Re:Eating nanobots? by Forbman · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well, most animal slime is a mix of sugars and water. The sugars hold a large amount of water, relatively speaking, so if it's the same with bacteria, then the bacteria does not have to expel much of the sugar mix, so the metabolic demands are gonna be relatively small.

  2. The DETAILS may be new, the idea isn't! by maubp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Scientists have discovered that some bacteria propel themselves along using tiny jets of slime".

    No - that has been known for a long time. This research mearly elucidates the mechanism. Which is nice. But, in addition to the slime nozzles at the back end, .

    Did you know that at the front end Myxo bacteria have "grappling hooks" which that can extend and then retract? Search for pilus retraction...

    Or that they are pack hunters? Or that they will commits suicide to save their buddies?

    Myxobacteria - they're great!

    1. Re:The DETAILS may be new, the idea isn't! by Dachannien · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Or that they will commit suicide to save their buddies?

      The amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum will also sacrifice itself to help propagate the species when food supplies are dwindling. Rather than just die and release protective substances, however, the individual cells actually form a multicellular slug capable of locomotion. Once the slug has migrated, it sends up a stalk with a spore-laden "fruiting body". The cells in the stalk die, while the spores are able to travel through the air to an environment where food is hopefully more plentiful.

      Of course, being an amoeba, Dicty can locomote without the need for slime jets.