A team of bacteria will repair your house
BacillaFilla: A building microbe"Popular mechanics"
A student research group from Newcastle University has grown very useful microbes that are able to "mend" small cracks in concrete with the help of a binding substance they produce. BacillaFilla, as this bacterium has been dubbed, penetrates into cracks and "spreads" inside. After reaching the bottom of the crack, BacillaFilla begins to produce a mixture of calcium carbonate and bacterial glue. This "mortar" filled with filamentous bacterial cells binds the walls of the crack, increasing the strength of the structure and extending its service life.
The team won gold at the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines) international competition, which was held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. (The iGEM website published a description of the project, BacillaFilla: Fixing Cracks in Concrete – VM.)
The project manager, lecturer Dr. Jennifer Hallinan, says that the "bacterial" method of repair will be more environmentally friendly than the production of concrete and the construction of new structures. "This can be especially useful in earthquake-prone areas where hundreds of buildings are being demolished just because there is currently no easy way to repair them."
BacillaFilla spores begin to germinate only upon contact with concrete, reacting to the specific pH of the material. The gene of "self-destruction" is embedded in the genome of the bacterium, so it is not able to survive in environmental conditions.
Bacterial cells formed on the surface of concrete begin to penetrate into cracks on its surface. In the area of the crack bottom, the bacteria become "cramped" and the cells begin to stick together. This serves as a signal for the beginning of differentiation of bacterial cells. Some of them begin to produce calcium carbonate, others – bacterial glue, and others act as a "reinforcing fiber". As a result of this division of labor, the crack is filled with a binding substance and ceases to pose a threat to the strength of the structure.
The work was attended by 9 students of various specialties – from computer science and civil engineering to microbiology and biochemistry. Their results will form the basis for further research to be conducted at the University of Newcastle.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru15.11.2010