"Bacterial Vampirism: Deadly Pathogens' Thirst for Human Blood"

Researchers at Washington State University have discovered a new trait called 'bacterial vampirism' among bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which are attracted to the liquid part of human blood, or serum, and can enter the bloodstream through small cuts in the digestive system, causing serious complications for people with inflammatory bowel disease. The bacteria can detect as little as a femtoliter of serum and swim toward it, a strategy called 'chemotaxis.' This new understanding could lead to the development of drugs to prevent sepsis in high-risk individuals.