![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sporobole.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/img_e2210.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
An illustration of the locations and functions of\u00a0Bacteroides<\/em>\u00a0succinogenes,\u00a0<\/em>part of an explanation provided to me by Denis Groleau. This species of bacteria uses enzymatic interactions with ingested cellulosic materials (plantstuffs like grass, grain, etc) in the rumen to break it down and absorb the minerals and nutrients, which it delivers to the ruminant\u2019s stomach to be absorbed. The bacteria itself, then, becomes the nourishment, traveling on through the stomach and intestinal system. This should provide us some more insight into the function of our own intestinal microbiomes.<\/p>\n The relationship between a bacterial membrane and a biocompatible substrate like cellulose, is one of nanometric intimacy. The outer encasing of a double-walled membrane (specific to Gram-negative bacteria) breaks away in patches in order to form vesicles which attach to the cellulose. While the cell membrane heals itself, the bacterial cell anchors into close contact with the substrate through the new vesicular grafts. These vesicle sites are where enzymes are released.<\/p>\n Those are technical specificities that Denis shared with me from his research (I\u2019m learning new things already), but we also decided that a deeper consideration of the notion of intimacy, or what I\u2019ll refer to as\u00a0bactointimacy,\u00a0<\/em>is of mutual interest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I met with Denis in his lab at the Universit\u00e9 de Sherbrooke today for the first time.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n Our discussion on bactointimacy began with Denis explaining to me a key component of the enzymatic intercommunication that he identified in his research: extreme proximity \u2013 direct membrane-to-membrane contact in the case of the vesicles.<\/p>\n Denis is a scientist who is extremely passionate about the multitude of contributions of bacteria to our entire human existence and experience of life. He and I are closely aligned in our views on this, particularly for me with regards to my previously-stated views on cellular haptic intelligence\/ epistemology (which I outline, starting\u00a0here<\/a>, in my published writing on mammalian cells and their \u201ccreative\u201d interactions with my handwoven protein fibre scaffolds). Further to this, I asked Denis if he knew if it were possible for a cellulose-generating bacterium, such as\u00a0Gluconacetobacter xylinus\u00a0<\/em>(the kind found in fermented tea) to co-exist with a cellulose-dissolving bacterium, such as his\u00a0Bacteroides succinogenes<\/em>. This was a question he couldn\u2019t directly answer but was interested in further investigating. His five beautiful fermenters may be useful for that kind of experiment, though one bacteria is aerobic (G. xylinum<\/em>) and one is anaerobic (B. succinogenes<\/em>). It may be that their different requirements are compatible, though.<\/p>\n It is utterly delightful to share such a vivid curiosity about cellular communication and activity with Denis. His longstanding research on such matters is inspiring, and his philosophical openness is unique for a microbiologist.<\/p>\n It is this\u00a0bactointimacy<\/strong>\u00a0that will be one of the central topics for both of us, in terms of the kinds of outputs that result from my Sporobole residency and our collaboration. And so, our work has begun to shape itself beautifully already.<\/p>\n **** Endnote: the name of this faculty (Facult\u00e9 de g\u00e9nie) really works for this witch-in-a-labcoat (moi):<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sporobole.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/img_2206-576x152.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sporobole.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/img_2182-282x360.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sporobole.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/img_2183-270x360.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sporobole.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/screen-shot-2017-11-25-at-3-15-31-pm-438x360.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n\n