We Are What We Eat: True for Bacteria Too

Bacteria are present everywhere—all around and within us. Are you scared of them? Do not be, because most bacteria are actually good for us. Only a small number of them can occasionally cause infections, making us sick. Bacteria cause infections by dividing quickly inside the human body, that is, by the process of one cell dividing into two cells at a fast pace. To fuel growth and division, bacteria need to find their favorite food and be able to process (digest) it correctly. Like humans love to eat candies, one of the favorite food choices of bacteria is the simple sugar called glucose. We have found that when glucose is not processed correctly by bacteria, the bacteria cannot divide properly. We want to understand the link between food processing and cell division in bacteria—especially during infection—so that we can stop the bacteria from dividing, by either supplying them with food they do not like or making them process their favorite foods incorrectly. This will kill the bacteria and prevent them from making us sick.