Chemical technology news from across RSC Publishing.
Nanofactories monitor bacteria communication 03 March 2010
Scientists in the US have developed a microdevice that
investigates how bacteria communicate with each other to enhance
their resistance to drugs. Bacteria communicate in a process
called quorum sensing, in which they secrete small signalling
molecules called autoinducers. When bacteria produce a quorum,
their resistance to drugs is enhanced. William Bentley and co-
workers from the University of Maryland have developed bio-
inspired nanoscale factories that capture bacteria, deliver a
drug right on the surface of the bacteria and test their
responses. 'The overall goal is to understand how pathogens
communicate with each other to make a more formidable team than
each individual cell. We're trying to break down what exactly a
quorum is and how it works', explains Bentley. Microdevice could
help develop the next generation of antimicrobials The
nanofactories assemble themselves on a chitosan coated ele