Nanobacteria and Man

Abstract

Nanobacteria are very small mineral forming bacteria recently discovered in mammalian blood and tissues. They are the first mineral forming bacteria found in blood and the first heat and gamma irradiation resistant bacteria detected in man. They seem to have a genetic organization, which permits them to compensate for their small size and slow metabolism, and endure in their environmental niche. These properties together with their very slow growth rate meant that they were not detected until about 10 years ago. Their extraordinary nature also hindered attempts to publish this data. These autonomously replicating microorganisms were approaching the theoretical limit of self-replicating life with a size of only one hundredth of that of usual bacteria (Kajander, 1992; Åkerman et al, 1993, Kajander et al, 1994). Morphologically similar organisms had been discovered by Folk (1993) in sedimentary rocks and in hot-springs in travertine, and these he had given the name Nanobacteria. Such bacteria seem to contribute to the formation of many kinds of minerals. These bacteria may secrete molecules acting as nucleation centers for depositing biogenic minerals, e.g., apatite, around them in aquatic environments (Mojzsis et al, 1996). In a similar way, nanobacteria from blood can surround themselves with mineral deposits.