The bacterium Micavibrio aeruginosavorus (yellow), leeching on a
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium (purple). What’s the news: If
bacteria had blood, the predatory microbe Micavibrio
aeruginosavorus would essentially be a vampire: it subsists by
hunting down other bugs, attaching to them, and sucking their
life out. For the first time, researchers have sequenced the
genome of this strange microorganism, which was first identified
decades ago in sewage water. The sequence will help better
understand the unique bacterium, which has potential to be used
as a “living antibiotic” due to its ability to attack drug-
resistant biofilms and its apparent fondness for dining on
pathogens. Anatomy of a Vampire: - The bacterium has an
interesting multi-stage life history. During its migratory phase
it sprouts a single flagellum and goes hunting for prey. Once it
find a delectable morsel of bacterium, it attacks and
irreversibly attaches to the surface, and sucks out all of the
good stuff: carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins