Bacteria communicate using their own chemical language. A chemical is released, and when levels reach a critical point, group behaviors are carried out by masses of bacteria.
In some types of bacteria, group behaviors consist of relatively inocuous luminescence. In many others, it consists of producing toxins - and thus potentially making you very sick.
The above simple fact has incredible applications. First, the all-important medical application: disrupt the communication process, such that bacteria never detect the critical levels of ‘communication chemicals’ - and thus never produce the disease-causing toxins. The first antibiotic of this kind is being developed from a substance which does exactly this - an algae component.
Many drastically different - and cooler in my opinion - applications are being researched.
By controlling the communication process, researchers have manipulated bacteria to form a bulls-eye pattern: a group of bacteria detect a specific compound (for example, anthrax) and emit a ‘communication chemical’,whose concentration is highest near the sender bacteria. At such high concentrations other bacteria will emit a green light. Bacteria further away were controlled to emit a red light.
Such bacteria can be used to complete a circuit. Bacteria which bind to a gold molecules can be used such they effectively form tiny gold wires, capable of conducting electricity.
By harvesting this power, researchers are already developing the knowledge base for bacterial computers (a google search will lead to articles on Princeton’s research).
Perhaps most important is the potential these bacteria provide for building nano-devices. For example, a self-assembling nano-circuit has been built using this technology - something which is very striking.
There is little doubt in my mind this line of research in bio-engineering will lead to very powerful developments, devices, medical treatments over the next 20 years.
In the medical realm, finding a generalized approach for treating illnesses which works for most cases would be akin to finding the holy grail, in my view. IF you can prevent bacteria from producing the toxins which make you sick in the first place, these baceria won’t be impelled as much to become resistant to a drug designed to kill them.
