• Question: "Staphylococcus bacteria has the abitily to talk to the others around it using chemical signals" can you explain more about this please ?

    Asked by laurena to Rob on 10 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Robert Hampson

      Robert Hampson answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      Each individual bacterial cell releases various chemicals. Other bacterial cells can sense them in their environment (I suppose it is more like smell or taste than sound as taste and smell are how we sense chemicals around us) and these surrounding chemicals change the bacteria’s behaviours. Its as if they’ve had a chemical discussion to decide what they will do next.

      When many staphylococcus bacteria secrete one specific chemical called AIP into one small area, its like they are talking to each other and preparing to fight the human host. When this happens they all release lots of poisonous chemicals and enzyme which break down human tissues all at the same time. Because this all happens at once, it is much more difficult for the immune system to fight them.

      Hopefully, that explains it better. If you still want more information, I think you can leave comments?

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