Scientists have uncovered one of the reasons why food poisoning is often completely sudden. Studies have shown that some bacteria know how to use substances contained in products to protect against acidic environment in the stomach.

A group of microbiologists led by Colin Hill from the University of Cork (Ireland) found that bacteria of the genus Listeria are able to neutralize the acidic environment of gastric juice around themselves and thereby avoid death. Once in the intestine, these microorganisms then cause poisoning, listeriosis, which in some cases can even lead to death - especially if a pregnant woman or an elderly person is struck. E. coli, E. Coli, which is sometimes found in food or water, against a background of listeria is less dangerous, although it occurs much more often.

From improvised means The title may seem incorrect from the point of view of cytology, the science of the device cells. Bacteria, of course, have neither hands nor feet, but "from sub-membrane means" - still sounds strange. It is precisely the fact that some of the substances surrounding them are required for acid protection from listeria, and it was news that explains the unpredictability of poisoning.

If the bacteria could survive all the time in a solution of hydrochloric acid, poisoning would occur constantly. If the bacteria were deprived of this ability, there would be no poisoning at all. But since to neutralize the acidic environment they require the amino acid glutamate, in practice, the outcome of eating infected products is determined not only by the number of inward leisteries, but also by how rich the glutamate was in food.

News. Gradusnik. En.