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Despite their minuscule size, bacteria are present everywhere and can accomplish tasks beyond the reach of larger beings like ourselves. Recently, we've highlighted some truly remarkable microorganisms, such as bacteria that consume radioactive waste. Yet, there are certain types of these tiny creatures that possess abilities we can only describe as true superpowers.
Now, let us introduce you to ten types of bacteria with abilities so extraordinary, they seem more suited for a superhero comic than reality. Should this inspire any film studios to create a blockbuster about superhero bacteria, we strongly suggest seeking permission from scientists first.
10. Caulobacter Crescentus (The Super-Adhesive Bacterium)
If a gecko clings to a surface with its legs, it would require hundreds of kilograms of force just to “unstick” it. However, even that doesn't compare to the powers of the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. Like a bacterial version of Spider-Man, C. crescentus has an adhesion strength seven times greater than that of geckos and is three to four times stickier than commercial superglue.
C. crescentus thrives in any wet environment, whether it's freshwater, saltwater, or even tap water. The microbe moves using a structure called a flagellum until it locates a suitable surface. Once found, one end of C. crescentus attaches to the surface, then anchors itself through delicate structures known as pili. After securing its position, the bacterium secretes a sugary adhesive substance that immediately bonds it to the surface.
Scientific tests have shown that the “superglue” of C. crescentus has an adhesive force of approximately five tons per square inch. To put that in perspective, a small amount of this substance could lift an elephant or several cars off the ground. Since C. crescentus lives in environments where food is scarce, it's believed that these bacteria also use their superglue to collect nutrients. As a result, scientists are excited about the practical potential of this sticky substance, which could be used in everything from surgical adhesives to durable construction materials.
9. Magnetotactic Bacteria (Living Magnets)
Imagine having the power to control magnetism. Sensing magnetic fields, manipulating metal objects, and moving simply by harnessing the Earth's magnetic field may seem extraordinary, yet it's beyond human ability. However, that doesn’t mean other living beings can’t possess such powers. In fact, some bacteria have already mastered these fascinating abilities. Meet magnetotactic bacteria, the living magnets.
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are microorganisms that can accumulate iron oxide molecules and assemble them into tiny magnetic “pebbles” called magnetosomes. These magnetic particles are 100,000 times smaller than a grain of rice, and MTBs contain many of them inside. These minuscule internal magnets allow the bacteria to sense the Earth's magnetic field and navigate toward either the South or North Pole, depending on where food is abundant. But this is just the start.
Living in oxygen-poor environments like swamps, MTBs move with the help of their flagella in search of a suitable location. However, when the sediment is too thick to navigate in this way, the bacteria use their magnetosomes to propel themselves by exploiting the Earth's magnetic field. MTBs could even be considered true superheroes. Scientists have learned to load these microorganisms with magnetosomes and use “magnetic heat” to eliminate harmful bacteria from the human body. MTBs could potentially help remove infectious viruses in large quantities by providing these magnetosomes.
8. Thiomargarita Namibiensis (The Little Giant)
In Marvel comics (and their movies), some superheroes can consume a special substance to grow to the size of towering skyscrapers. While no human has this power yet, there are some bacteria that can grow to impressive sizes at will. In this section, we explore the largest species of them all.
Thiomargarita namibiensis holds the title of the largest bacterium on Earth, being three million times bigger than the average bacterium. Discovered in 1997 along the Namibian coast, this microbe can reach a size of up to 0.75 millimeters, making it visible to the naked eye. Biologist Heide Schulz, who discovered it, explained: “In terms of size, a T. namibiensis cell is to an Escherichia coli cell what a blue whale is to a newborn mouse.”
The massive size of T. namibiensis is attributed to its feeding strategy. This bacterium uses nitrate and sulfide for energy. Since nitrate concentrations are low in its habitat, T. namibiensis
Visually, T. namibiensis appears white due to the sulfur granules it stores inside. Notably, as T. namibiensis consumes sulfur, its populations help detoxify seawater, fostering the growth of marine life. These bacteria often cluster together, bound by a layer of mucus, creating long strings of white spheres. This behavior inspired the bacterium’s name, Thiomargarita namibiensis, which translates to “Sulfur Pearl of Namibia.”
7. Modified Escherichia Coli (The Living Computers)
Throughout history, humans have continually sought better methods for storing information. Long ago, we began conveying ideas through cave paintings. Then came the invention of books and computers, and recently, we discovered that diamonds can be excellent data storage mediums. But the game changed when bacteria were introduced, as scientists managed to encode information into them. Yes, some microorganisms can now carry text, images, and videos within their cells, effectively transforming them into living computers.
It turns out that when bacteria neutralize an enemy virus, they store fragments of the virus’s DNA inside their cells. This helps the microbes recognize similar threats in the future. Leveraging this mechanism, Harvard University scientists cultivated a colony of 600,000 Escherichia coli bacteria. They then encoded an image of a human hand and a short video of a galloping horse into a DNA strand. Finally, they gave the E. coli an electric shock to trigger their defense response, allowing them to absorb the engineered DNA.
To verify the success of the experiment, the scientists sequenced the new genetic code of each bacterium. They then ran the sequence through a computer program that decoded it into images. Amazingly, the resulting pictures were nearly identical to the original files, with only a few pixels missing. Though this process may seem complicated, advancements in genetic sequencing technologies have made it relatively straightforward to execute.
This isn't the first instance of E. coli being used to carry our information. Back in 2003, US scientists encoded the lyrics of a song into the DNA of E. coli bacteria. In 2011, Canadian writer Christian Bok inserted a poem into the DNA of a single E. coli, which then glowed red and began producing its own poem. If you're curious about the potential of this ability, a gram of DNA can store up to 455 exabytes (455 billion gigabytes) of data—about a quarter of the world’s entire information. In the near future, we may use modified E. coli populations as our personal microcomputers.
6. Shewanella Oneidensis (Electric Microbes)
Electrogenic bacteria are a fascinating group of microorganisms that can naturally produce electricity by transferring electrons outside their cells. Hundreds of electrogenic bacterial species have been discovered so far, thriving in diverse environments—from the depths of a lake to inside the human body. However, one particular bacterium stands out due to its exceptional characteristics, making it a prime subject of scientific investigation.
Shewanella oneidensis is a bacterium first identified in the lakes of New York. Unlike most living organisms, which rely on oxygen to generate energy, S. oneidensis “breathes” metals like manganese, lead, and iron. To do this, these bacteria cluster together and attach to metal-rich rock surfaces. They then send out long filaments called nanowires, which they use to make direct contact with the metal. Through this connection, they transfer electrons from inside their bodies to the metal, generating an electric current that sustains them. Occasionally, S. oneidensis bacteria reverse the process, extracting electrons from the metals, thus living off electricity.
It is believed that the nanowires of S. oneidensis enable it to conduct electricity over extended distances and even provide electrons to nearby bacteria. This remarkable ability to generate electricity has piqued the interest of the scientific community. For instance, researchers are exploring the bacterium’s potential to help treat wastewater. Meanwhile, NASA has sent samples of these microbes into space to investigate whether they could be useful in developing future life-support systems.
5. Pseudomonas Syringae (The Ice-Maker)
Similar to Marvel’s Iceman, the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae can freeze water just by touching it, even in temperatures above the normal freezing point. P. syringae are commonly found in agricultural crops as well as other plant species. To obtain their nutrients, these microbes freeze plant tissues, making it easier to access the nutrients, which can cause significant damage to crops. P. syringae bacteria have also been discovered in cold environments, from Europe to Antarctica. But how do these bacteria manage to freeze things?
In 2016, researchers discovered that P. syringae uses specialized proteins on its outer membrane to create ice. These proteins alter the arrangement of water molecules, compelling them to form a solid, ice-like structure. To aid in this process, the proteins extract heat from the water, causing it to freeze regardless of the surrounding temperature.
Pure water doesn’t freeze until it reaches about –40 degrees Celsius (–40 °F). However, a single drop of P. syringae bacteria can instantly freeze 600 milliliters (20.3 fluid ounces) of water that has been cooled to only –7 degrees Celsius (19.4 °F). It is also thought that these microbes play a role in the formation of rain and snow when the wind carries them into the atmosphere. So, our helpful P. syringae is both an ice-maker and a rain-maker. Thanks to their remarkable abilities, P. syringae bacteria are now used to create artificial snow in ski resorts, and they could even be applied in various biotechnological processes.
4. Modified Klebsiella Planticola (World Destroyer)
This bacterium possesses a superpower capable of potentially wiping out all plant life on Earth, earning Klebsiella planticola the title of supervillain on this list. Found in the roots of nearly every plant on the planet, Klebsiella bacteria are essential for decomposing dead plants, thus clearing the soil of organic waste.
In a groundbreaking experiment, German scientists took a sample of K. planticola and genetically altered it to produce both fertilizer and ethanol as it decomposed plant matter. This bioengineered bacterium was expected to be highly marketable for agricultural and industrial applications, and in the early 1990s, testing K. planticola in real-world fields was being planned.
However, to assess its effectiveness, researchers from Oregon State University conducted a laboratory trial using fertile, sowed soil. One portion of the soil contained the original K. planticola, while the modified version was introduced to the other. The results were alarming: while seeds germinated in both sections, every plant in the section with the genetically altered microbes had died within a week.
The modified K. planticola generated 17 times more ethanol than the plants could withstand. Moreover, plants typically rely on fungi to absorb nutrients from the soil, but the ethanol-producing bacteria boosted the population of worms that consumed the fungi. As a result, the plants perished not only from poisoning but also from nutrient deprivation.
Compounding its sinister nature, it was confirmed that the modified K. planticola could survive in the soil for extended periods, unlike other genetically modified bacteria. Ultimately, the “killer” K. planticola was never commercialized. However, it was controversially argued (though disputed) that had this bacterium been released into the fields, it could have wiped out all plant life on a continental scale.
3. Staphylococcus Epidermidis (The Anti-Cancer Champion)
Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death worldwide. In 2018 alone, nearly ten million people succumbed to this disease, and the annual number of cancer diagnoses is projected to hit 23.6 million by 2030. However, this could change, as researchers have discovered an innovative way to combat cancer. And yes, it involves bacteria.
In February 2018, a team of scientists from the University of California made an exciting discovery: the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis has potential anti-cancer properties. Found naturally on healthy human skin, S. epidermidis was found to produce a chemical compound that resembles a vital DNA component. After conducting lab tests, the researchers found that the compound, named 6-HAP, interfered with DNA production, halting the growth of cancer cells without affecting healthy cells. The reason? Certain enzymes in normal cells neutralized the chemical.
The scientists then administered 6-HAP to a group of mice, while another group remained untreated. Both groups were exposed to high doses of UV radiation. Although all the mice developed cancer, the tumors in the mice treated with 6-HAP were 60 percent smaller than those in the untreated mice. In a follow-up experiment, the researchers applied S. epidermidis bacteria directly to the backs of the mice. Even in this case, the mice with the bacteria developed only one tumor after the radiation exposure, while the untreated mice developed up to six tumors. Though more research is needed, there is hope that S. epidermidis could one day be used to prevent a variety of cancers, including skin cancer.
2. Ancient Bacteria
On average, humans can expect to live just over 70 years. Some reptiles can live for nearly 200 years, while certain trees have existed for around 5,000 years. Yet, all of this pales in comparison to the oldest bacteria on Earth. In 2007, researchers uncovered bacteria that were over half a million years old and still alive.
A research team from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) collected samples of these ancient bacteria from layers of ice in Canada, Russia, and Antarctica. These microbes are estimated to have been alive for approximately 600,000 years, and when scientists analyzed their DNA, they were astonished to find it nearly intact. This is highly unusual for organisms of such age, as DNA typically begins to degrade over time. To endure through the ages, many microorganisms enter a state of near total dormancy, but even in that state, their DNA suffers substantial damage.
The secret to these bacteria's long life lies in their extraordinary ability to repair their own DNA. Instead of becoming dormant and suspending their functions to survive, this particular bacterium keeps a small portion of its metabolism active. This allows it to continuously repair its DNA while waiting for more favorable conditions to reproduce.
There have been claims of even older living bacteria, such as bacteria found in salt crystals believed to be 250 million years old. However, these claims have not been verified, and some suggest the samples may have been contaminated with modern microbes in the lab. In contrast, the 600,000-year-old bacteria are confirmed authentic, as researchers took great care to prevent contamination during their experiments.
1. Aquifex (The Microbe From Hell)
In the early 1980s, scientists discovered the first known hyperthermophilic organisms, microscopic life forms capable of surviving and reproducing in temperatures approaching 100 degrees Celsius (212 °F). Most of these organisms belong to the Archaea domain, a group distinct from bacteria, which was only recognized in the late 1970s. However, a few hyperthermophilic bacteria have also been identified, and their unique abilities make them more resilient than most life on Earth.
The genus Aquifex consists of bacteria that can reproduce in underwater thermal vents and hot springs, thriving in temperatures up to 95 degrees Celsius (203 °F). To put that in perspective, if a human body were submerged in such water, it would start to boil and dissolve in just a few hours. Yet, Aquifex can survive even in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius (212 °F), making them the most heat-resistant bacteria known.
As if their heat tolerance wasn’t impressive enough, Aquifex are also aerobic, meaning they can breathe oxygen. While they can only tolerate low levels of oxygen, they are among the few known aerobic hyperthermophilic bacteria. If oxygen is unavailable, Aquifex can even breathe nitrogen. Perhaps the most remarkable trait of these bacteria is that they produce water as a byproduct of their respiration. This earned them the name Aquifex, meaning ‘water-maker.’
