New Electricity-Conducting Bacteria Could Revolutionize Environmental Cleanup
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📰 The quick summary: Scientists have discovered a new species of bacteria that conducts electricity like a wire, featuring unique structural properties that could lead to advances in bioelectronics and environmental remediation.
📈 One key stat: These cable bacteria can transport electrons over distances of several centimeters, enabling crucial metabolic processes across oxygen-variable environments.
💬 One key quote: “This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments,” says microbiologist Cheng Li of Oregon State University and James Madison University.
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists have discovered a new type of cable bacteria named Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis in the mudflats of Oregon’s coast. This bacterium conducts electricity similar to a wire and features distinctive surface ridges up to three times wider than other known cable bacteria species. While cable bacteria generally form long chains to transport electrons and divide metabolic labor between cells in variably oxygenated environments, this new species shows unique genetic and structural characteristics. The bacteria’s cells buried in oxygen-poor sediment create energy by metabolizing sulfide, then transport the resulting electrons to cells in oxygen-rich layers, demonstrating a remarkable collective approach to survival.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The discovery expands our understanding of how microorganisms can conduct electricity in natural environments, potentially opening new paths for biotechnology development. The bacteria’s unique nickel-based conductive fibers might inspire innovative bioelectronic devices with practical applications. Their natural ability to transfer electrons makes them promising candidates for environmental cleanup, particularly in removing harmful substances from sediments. This finding highlights greater functional and ecological diversity within cable bacteria than previously recognized, enriching our knowledge of microbial evolution. The naming of the species to honor the First Nations Yaqo’n people also represents a positive acknowledgment of indigenous communities’ connection to the lands where scientific discoveries occur.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers will refine this new species’ position in the cable bacteria family tree through additional studies. Scientists aim to explore how these bacteria might be harnessed for practical applications in food safety and environmental remediation. Further research will investigate the bacteria’s unique nickel-protein structure to develop new bioelectronic applications.
Read the full story here: Science Alert – Scientists Discover New Bacteria That Conduct Electricity Like a Wire
