Washington: Scientists have discovered new vampire-like properties in human bacteria.
Researchers at Washington State University have uncovered a new trait in bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella and E.coli, dubbed bacterial vampirism.
Experts have long been unaware of how and why microorganisms manage to enter the bloodstream from the stomach, where they can prove fatal.
The study found that the liquid part of blood is attractive to these bacteria. This fraction contains components that the cobacteria can use as food.
These pathogens can easily find serum (a desirable fluid in the blood) and enter the bloodstream through small cuts in the digestive system, often leading to death from sepsis. .
Just like a shark, even a small amount of blood is enough to ingest this vampiric bacteria.
In a statement, co-author of the study Professor Arden Belnick said that the bacteria that infect the blood can be fatal. Research has shown that some bacteria that normally cause blood infections actually smell a chemical in human blood and swim towards it.
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