E. coli flattens itself to squeeze through small spaces, altering its shape. Image: Tu Delft/Treman
Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, two common microbes, move easily through passages just 30 per cent wider than themselves, say researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
More surprisingly, both can also grow and divide to push through even narrower passages. E. coli, a cause of food poisoning, even flattens itself to squeeze through passages smaller than its normal size. The finding means harmful bacteria may be lurking in unexpected places, such as in the membranes of water-filtration systems.
