Electrical Microbioma

Electrical Gut Bacteria?

Some bacteria, like Listeria monocytogenes, can generate electricity. These bacteria transport electrons through the cell wall into the surrounding environments, with help from flavin molecules (shown in yellow).

Credit: Amy Cao graphic. Copyright UC Berkeley.

There may not be butterflies in your stomach, but there are certainly sparks in your gut.

In the lab, Portnoy and his team first grew a batch of Listeria monocytogenes, a species of bacteria, that we often eat that sometimes causes an infection called listeriosis. This type of food poisoning typically is most dangerous for those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women (it can cause miscarriages), newborns and elderly people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Read more about the shocking find.]