PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A research team led by Washington State University has discovered a phenomenon in which some of the world’s deadliest bacteria feed on human blood.
The researchers found that the bacteria are attracted to the liquid part of blood, which has nutrients they can use as food, in a phenomenon they called “bacterial vampirism.”
According to the researchers, this study could lead to innovations in medicine to help treat people with bloodstream infections.
During the study, researchers found the bacteria seemed especially drawn to serine, an amino acid found in human blood that is also a common ingredient in protein drinks.
“Bacteria infecting the bloodstream can be lethal,” said Arden Baylink, a professor at WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and corresponding author for the research. “We learned some of the bacteria that most commonly cause bloodstream infections actually sense a chemical in human blood and swim toward it.”
Researchers …