Bacteria cells group together in communities and use electrical signalling to survive

Cells group together to electronically communicate and ensure nutrients reach where they are needed. Research group includes Dr Munehiro Asally from the University of Warwick's School of Life Sciences. Groups of bacteria use electrical signalling to communicate, new research published in the journal Nature has found. The electro-communication mechanism was found to be surprisingly similar to action potential mechanism in neurons found in animal brains and central nervous systems. The groups, called biofilms and formed by millions of individual bacteria cells, oscillate to ensure that nutrients reach where they are needed. The new research found that the oscillation is a result of electro-communication between the individual bacteria cells that comprise the biofilm. The research team, including Dr Munehrio Asally of the University of Warwick's School of Life Science and led by Prof. Gurol Suel, University of California San Diego, found that while individual cells within a biofilm compete for nutrients they also work collectively to protect themselves.