Cell-cell Communication in Bacteria Mediated by Weak Photon Emission
Abstract
Cells, including bacteria communicate via multiple routes. Prominent amongst these is through chemical signaling. However, literature dating back to the 1970s has suggested that cells may communicate using electromagnetic forces, including weak photon (light) emission. To date, however, these predictions remain largely theoretical, or lack robust experimental support. In this study, we sought to determine if chemically separated cultures of bacteria could communicate across a boundary that allows light, but not chemical signals, to pass. To address this question, we cultured Escherichia coli initiated from either low or high density in an experimental setup that involved growing one population on the inside of a cuvette made of quartz or glass, and a second population growing on the outside. We observed that when a high density population was grown next to a low density population in a quartz cuvette, the growth rate of the low density population was reduced. However, when the quartz cuvette was replaced with a glass cuvette, the growth rate of the low density population was unaffected. Given that glass filters out shorter wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV) range, and quartz does not, we suspect that any weak photon emission from bacteria is likely occurring in the UV range. Our results serve to establish a foundation where we can identify the wavelengths, weak photon emission process, and genetic consequence of communication via weak photon emission. More generally, these results indicate that cell-to-cell communication through the use of weak photon emission may regulate cell growth, which has implications in our understanding of cellular communication process, and may represent a new therapeutic method to regulate the growth of bacteria.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Robert Smith, Dr. Travis J.A. Craddock
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Shermany Library
Start Date
4-5-2019 1:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2019 5:00 PM
Cell-cell Communication in Bacteria Mediated by Weak Photon Emission
Alvin Shermany Library
Cells, including bacteria communicate via multiple routes. Prominent amongst these is through chemical signaling. However, literature dating back to the 1970s has suggested that cells may communicate using electromagnetic forces, including weak photon (light) emission. To date, however, these predictions remain largely theoretical, or lack robust experimental support. In this study, we sought to determine if chemically separated cultures of bacteria could communicate across a boundary that allows light, but not chemical signals, to pass. To address this question, we cultured Escherichia coli initiated from either low or high density in an experimental setup that involved growing one population on the inside of a cuvette made of quartz or glass, and a second population growing on the outside. We observed that when a high density population was grown next to a low density population in a quartz cuvette, the growth rate of the low density population was reduced. However, when the quartz cuvette was replaced with a glass cuvette, the growth rate of the low density population was unaffected. Given that glass filters out shorter wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV) range, and quartz does not, we suspect that any weak photon emission from bacteria is likely occurring in the UV range. Our results serve to establish a foundation where we can identify the wavelengths, weak photon emission process, and genetic consequence of communication via weak photon emission. More generally, these results indicate that cell-to-cell communication through the use of weak photon emission may regulate cell growth, which has implications in our understanding of cellular communication process, and may represent a new therapeutic method to regulate the growth of bacteria.
