Newly-discovered ‘zombie’ bacteria can kill, infect other bacteria

It seems like humans aren’t the only ones who should be afraid of zombies—researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that zombified bacteria infect and eventually turn other bacteria into fellow zombies.

 

In a study published in Scientific Reports, the researchers discovered what they called the “zombies effect” using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 bacteria.

 

The bacteria were exposed to silver nitrate, which, according to them, is a well-known antibacterial agent. After the bacteria were killed, they were separated from the silver nitrate solution and placed into a clean solution with fresh bacteria. After six hours of exposure, 99.999% the new batch of bacteria died.

 

This zombie effect works because silver nitrate doesn’t lose its bacteria-killing properties even after being absorbed by the first batch of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. So once the first batch decays, it releases the silver back into the solution, killing the new batch of bacteria. — Bea Montenegro/TJD, GMA News