Groundbreaking Discovery: Researchers Uncover the First 'Vampire Bacteria' Feeding on Human Blood
For the first time, a phenomenon termed "bacterial vampirism" has been observed, identifying pathogens that thrive on human blood.
A research team from Washington State University and the University of Oregon has identified bacteria attracted to blood serum or plasma, the liquid component of blood which, while not containing blood cells (red and white), is rich in nutrients and an energy source.
These pathogens pose particular risks to individuals suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), as bleeding within the digestive system can pave the way for these bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
"Bacteria entering the bloodstream can be deadly. We've discovered that some of the most common bacteria that cause sepsis are able to detect certain compounds in the blood and swim towards them," the press release quotes Arden Baylink, a microbiologist at Washington State University.
Which Microbes Could Be Vampires?
To analyze the interaction between bacteria and blood, the researchers employed a unique tool for injecting small quantities of fluid and a high-powered microscope.
Three bacterium strains known to cause fatal infections (_Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter koseri_) were found to be attracted to human blood serum.
While the full biological mechanism remains unknown, it was discovered that serine, an amino acid, is one of the compounds the bacteria identify, seek out, and consume through certain protein receptors. These bacteria can detect and locate blood in less than a minute.
The investigated microorganisms, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, have been linked to diseases such as sepsis and gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly in cases of IBD.
Millions Could Be At Risk From These Microscopic Vampires
Bleeding within the digestive system is a common occurrence in IBD, attracting pathogens with a vampiric lifestyle, which can easily lead to fatal outcomes. Approximately 1.3% of the U.S. population, or about 3.1 million people, suffer from IBD (with the disease affecting around 45,000 in Hungary).
Understanding how bacteria can identify and bind to blood serum could potentially lead to life-saving treatments.