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Bacteria are built for survival, E. coli study suggests
e. coli
"E. coli has a robust approach to recover from DNA damage, which ensures an excellent survival rate."

Discovery helps to explain why bacteria are so widespread and why they are so hard to kill

A study by the University of Edinburgh has revealed that some bacteria flourish even when under continued attack. The development could help to explain how our immune systems can't always prevent infections.

An examination of the common E. coli bug has shown that it is able to recover continually from potentially fatal harm to its genetic material, without slowing down the rate at which it grows.

The team who led the study say that the finding helps to explain why bacteria are so widespread and why they are so hard to kill.

The researchers studied how E. coli responded when its DNA strands were deliberately broken as it tried to carry out its everyday function of dividing and reproducing.

They were astonished to find that the bug was able to use a combination of methods to survive repeated DNA damage. It has an in-built emergency response to ensure that DNA damage is quickly repaired. It also carries out overlapping rounds of DNA replication, which enables its cells to continue to divide and reproduce. This ensures E. coli keeps multiplying as it recovers.

A series of experiments revealed that bacteria were able to thrive indefinitely and grow at almost identical rates, even if repeated DNA breaks took place.

Damage to DNA occurs in most organisms, for example from exposure to harmful chemicals or UV radiation. Bacteria which cause disease have to survive attacks from our immune system, which can lead to DNA damage. If not repaired, this can be fatal to bacteria.

Dr Elise Darmon of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who led the study, said: "E. coli has a robust approach to recover from DNA damage, which ensures an excellent survival rate. This study shows how tough bacteria are and why they are the most populous independent life form on Earth. More work is needed to determine whether their appetite for recovery is linked to bacteria's ability to get the better out of our immune system."

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.