E. coli turned out to be a more unusual organism than previously thought

E. coli is perhaps the most well-studied organism on Earth. But now scientists have discovered in E. coli

unusual behavior that is very rarely observed in bacteria. Signs of previously unknown multicellular phases have been found in unicellular organisms.

It turned out that E. coli is not alwaysmay be a single-celled organism. In tests of microfluidic devices that image live cells, scientists have discovered that from time to time, individual bacteria cluster in groups of four, forming “rosettes.” This cellular structure is not typically found in single-celled organisms, but is a key step in cell division in multicellular organisms.

“Rosettes are quite important for higher organisms such as mammals. They are the ones who initiate development processes such as embryogenesis,” the scientists explain.

E.coli lives in the human intestine, where it is mostly beneficial. However, it sometimes causes pneumonia or food poisoning. Given its prevalence and potential danger, E. coli is being carefully studied to find ways to treat or prevent the spread of infection.

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On the cover: E. coli under a microscope; rosettes forming chains (left) and parallel chains forming biofilms (right), Emory University