In the world of bacterial infections, size matters—at least when it comes to understanding how antibiotics work. A groundbreaking study published in the journal *Small Science* (translated from German as “Small Science”) is challenging conventional wisdom by revealing how small populations of bacteria respond to antibiotics in ways that bulk assays can’t predict. This research, led by Ashkan Samimi of the Bio Pilot Plant Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology in Jena, Germany, could have significant implications for the energy sector, where bacterial infections can pose serious challenges to infrastructure and operations.
The study focuses on droplet-based microfluidics, a technology that allows researchers to create tens of thousands of picolitre droplets, each containing a tiny population of bacteria. “This approach enables us to encapsulate small populations of bacteria and track their responses to different environmental conditions with unprecedented precision,” Samimi explains. By using a combinatorial droplet-generation platform, the team was able to interrogate the responses of small populations of Escherichia coli to various sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics like tetracycline, streptomycin, and ampicillin.
What they found was surprising. For tetracycline, a bacteriostatic antibiotic that targets ribosomes, growth varied non-monotonically at low concentrations. For streptomycin, a bactericidal antibiotic that also targets ribosomes, the team observed apparent bistability—some replicate populations grew while others died. And for ampicillin, a bactericidal antibiotic that targets the cell wall, they observed stochastic bacterial filamentation. “These distinct phenomena highlight how antibiotic susceptibility can vary dramatically in small populations,” Samimi notes.
So, what does this mean for the energy sector? Bacterial infections can cause significant problems in energy infrastructure, from corrosion in pipelines to biofouling in water systems. Understanding how small populations of bacteria respond to antibiotics could lead to more effective treatment strategies, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. “This research lays the foundation for deeper studies into potential treatment implications,” Samimi says. “By understanding the nuances of antibiotic response in small populations, we can develop more targeted and effective interventions.”
The study published in *Small Science* is a significant step forward in the field of antibiotic research. By leveraging the power of droplet-based microfluidics, Samimi and his team have uncovered new insights into the complex dynamics of bacterial populations. As the energy sector continues to grapple with the challenges posed by bacterial infections, this research offers a promising path forward, one that could lead to more efficient and effective solutions.