Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: Andy Steed on 01/06/2008 11:22:58

Title: How do infecting bacteria know where they are in our bodies?
Post by: Andy Steed on 01/06/2008 11:22:58

Andy Steed  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hello Naked Scientists!

Thanks for such an interesting show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/)! It's the best thing on my iPod by far! :-D

I have a question that's been bugging me. I read that Cholera is so successful partly because it invades the gut where the immune system is weaker. But how do the bacteria know that they are in the gut? Similarly, how do some bacteria know how to give you a sore throat?

Thanks again,
Andrew Steed

What do you think?

Title: How do infecting bacteria know where they are in our bodies?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 01/06/2008 13:17:56

They don't know they're in the gut, they just happen to be there since you swallowed them.

Title: How do infecting bacteria know where they are in our bodies?
Post by: thedoc on 26/07/2008 18:26:50

Listen to this question on our podcast by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.06.22/)