Overview

• New research identifies bacteria that chemically sense and move toward human blood serum as a nutrient source.
• Strains of E. coli, Salmonella, and Citrobacter koseri are highlighted as particularly dangerous due to their ability to cause bloodstream infections.
• The phenomenon, termed 'bacterial vampirism,' could lead to sepsis, especially in individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases.
• Researchers from Washington State University suggest that future treatments could block bacteria's ability to detect blood, improving outcomes for high-risk patients.
• The study, published in the journal eLife, offers hope for new strategies to prevent deadly infections in vulnerable populations.