Recent research has made a major breakthrough in understanding how bacteria can use manganese to survive. Scientists have discovered a way bacteria can use superoxide, a powerful oxidant, to oxidize manganese and turn it into a useful nutrient. This process could have implications for how bacteria are able to survive in extreme environments, such as deep-sea vents and other oxygen-poor locations. This discovery could lead to new ways of studying how bacteria can survive and grow in extreme conditions, as well as potential new treatments for diseases caused by bacteria.

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source: Phys.org