Illuminating a bacterial adaptation mechanism: Infrared-driven cell division in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments

Abstract

<p>Based on Planck's black-body radiation law, deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimneys emit light, predominantly infrared light, which potentially support bacterial photosynthesis in this ecosystem independently of the solar energy. To investigate the impact of this geothermal light on bacterial growth, we collected samples from the Southwest Indian Ridge and demonstrated that infrared light alone promotes bacterial growth and alters population composition. The mechanism of infrared stimulated growth was analyzed by monitoring cell wall synthesis using the <i>Tepidibacter hydrothermalis</i> strain SWIR-1, which was isolated from cultures enriched through infrared irradiation. The results showed that the elevated hydrostatic pressure inhibited septal peptidoglycan synthesis and cell division, but had less effect on cell elongation, chromosome replication and segregation. The dominant cell shape was filaments with some swelling and inertness in cell wall synthesis depending on the level of pressure applied. Interestingly, irradiation with 880 nm infrared light effectively initiated septal synthesis and alleviated the obstruction. This revelation uncovers a novel adaptation mechanism involving infrared light for bacteria dwelling in deep-sea environments, and sheds light on the potential of infrared-mediated photobiomodulation.</p>

An intelligent spinal soft robot with self-sensing adaptability

“…There has recently been a great amount of research effort to develop intelligent adaption capabilities in biomimetic soft robots. Distinguished from the environmental adaption capabilities 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 that have been developed in current soft robots, such as simple phototaxis effect and non-perceptual adaption via shape morphing, 12 , 13 the environment adaption of vertebrates encompasses the entire process of perceptual feedback and autonomous adaption, which is a typical representation of high-level biological intelligence 14 , 15 , 16 by long-term evolution. Such adaption mainly relies on two functions of the biological spine: one the perception capability based on the enclosed central nervous systems and the other the regulatory adaption capability supported by the musculoskeletal systems.…”