Thus, single-cell metabolic dynamics can forecast infection outcomes. In the spirit of @stephenwolfram.bsky.social's ideas, bacterial infection exhibits pockets of computational reducibility at the single-cell scale. Might this point to new ways to predict infection progression?

So we trained an explainable Machine Learning model using Δψm + mROS dynamics, and the AI model predicted which infected cell will support replication with 83% accuracy before bacterial replication begins

What make these permissive macrophages different? Before bacteria replicate, macrophages that will permit bacterial growth already show sustained mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and higher mitochondrial ROS (mROS). These are early mitochondrial signals of permissive cells!

We tracked thousands of living primary human macrophages during infection with Legionella pneumophila, using high-throughput live imaging + our BATLI backtracking software. Legionella only replicates in ~20% infected primary macrophages!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

🇪🇺 Smooth publishing experience with #microLife, the new @femsjournals.bsky.social journal of the European Academy for Microbiology.

🙏 @erc.europa.eu, F.R.S-FNRS & WEL-RI for support
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