An international journal published in the journal Nature of the study, from the University of California scientists have found that bacterial cells might be the use of virus and a prehistoric viral proteins to kill other bacteria and its food, the findings could help researchers develop new therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases.
The researchers noticed that special gaps formed when the two types of bacterial cells moved toward each other on the AGAR plate. This behavior is similar to the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, a scientist who discovered that bacteria did not grow near the fungus. He then went further and found that the gaps created by the bacterial cells were destroyed by a virus called SW1, which was carried by only one of the bacteria. No doubt bacterial cells use the SW1 virus to kill other bacteria that compete with them for food. In addition, bacteria need a helper protein to make better use of virus SW1.The researchers explain that the virus hides in the chromosomes of host cells and attacks them to kill them. Beneficial E. coli bacteria in the gut, for example, are able to trap many viruses in this way. Bacteria can also use viruses as recognizers, the researchers said. To function as a group, bacteria need to be able to distinguish themselves from other bacteria. Bacteria secrete special chemical signals to communicate with each other, but now researchers have found that bacteria use viruses to distinguish them. If bacteria do not detect viruses in other bacteria, they will recognize food competitors and release viruses to kill competitors. Of course, the molecular mechanism is not clear, but the current research results may provide new ideas and clues for further research. Finally, the researchers say understanding how bacterial cells compete with each other is crucial. For example, medicine could devise better ways to protect against infectious agents.