Coarsey

1


TABLE OF CONTENTS






ABSTRACT AND PREMISE.......................................................................2

BASIC ANATOMY GUIDE
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM...................................................3

UROGENITAL PATHOLOGY &
BACTERIUM SCHEMATIC.............................................................4

THE PERMISCUOUS LIFE OF THE SUPERBUG
LAG PHASE..............................................................................5

LOG PHASE..............................................................................8

STATIONARY PHASE.........................................................11

SENESCENSE.........................................................................18














Coarsey

2

Chad Coarsey
Tiffany Frost
LIT 2012-022
Final Paper
Abstract
Stan is an Escherichia Coli bacterium. The premise of this story is to deconstruct
the idea of the perverse implantation, a theory popularized by the writer Michel Foucault.
I n his argument, Foucault argues that the act of sodomy has forced itself to become
singled out and labeled as homosexual. With the AIDS crisis, a generalized stigma has
been set on the gay population. This is all because of the perverse implantation that
created this subgroup of the population. Over the centuries, Foucault argues a layering of
the term, through societal changes, wars, religious movements, has demonized a group of
people.
How does this relate to an insignificant bacterium? Bacteria have no gender
differences or roles, and constantly undergo sex. This sex in a sense is a transfer of
genetic material, and usually entails genes for drug resistance, pathogenicity, and
virulence. Through interaction with Bill, Sean, and others, Stan learns the value of sex
and the need for it to survive. Through his physiological transformation, Stan transforms
not only physical characteristics, but also modality and nature. He becomes aggressive
and promiscuous. This is a social commentary of the plight of the homosexual and the
recourse and evolution of Multi-Drug-Resistant Super Bugs. It is the allegory to the
novel MDR label that subgroups these bacteria into a category that has influenced
treatment, prognosis, and public fear.
Just like the homosexual stigma, MDR bacteria have become the implanted
perversion through constant sex (Horizontal Gene Transfer) and developed resistance
from unwise antibiotic treatment. There are subtleties that imply a connection to this: all
characters are one gender and have promiscuous sex, references to the Thebian Sacred
Band, for example. Overall two messages are important to understand. First the term
homosexual is a design created by those in minority that had opposed the curious nature
of humans and sodomy. Second, Bacteria confer virulence, pathogenicity through sex,
and drug resistance, though the over-prescription of antibiotics and HGT, a human design
as well.
Coarsey

3

Coarsey

4



Coarsey

5
O son, how many bodies have we to pass through, how many bands of demons, through
how many series of repetitions and cycles of the stars, before we hasten to the One alone?
Corpus Hermeticum, Hermes Trismegistus
Lag Phase

Awakening. The surge of oxygenation twilled the fimbriae
1
and Stan had
emerged. He never knew his parents as they had long gone but that didnt matter they
had died. The random and complex nature of surroundings intrigued him; which
detached his angst of his origins, much like Mersaults sympathy for his late mother. A
passing memory of meaninglessness. The barriers of his confinement were columnar
epithelia; they were boisterously tall and had flowing hair-like cilia. Stan noticed his
flagellae
2
, they engulfed him, and they swayed as he commanded them. Taxis, it was
Stans Kitty Hawk, he was taking flight, but he was novice. To any direction he chose,
Stan looped, corkscrewed, and tumbled his way around, but never seemed to find that
optimal straight line. It was dark, and the scents of unfamiliar had captivated Stan, but he
felt as if he were home. As if he had awakened from a past life inside the colonic abyss.
Despite the feelings of Shivan nostalgia, Stan began to wander in search of food, as food
cannot transcend this lifetime. The abundance of simple sugars and proteins would
suffice he thought. There, Stan the gram-negative rod engorged himself like a ravenous

1
Fimbriae: extemsions from the bacterial outermembrane; function to adhere and facilitate uptake of nutrients.
2
Flagellae: rope-like extension from the cell that functions in motility; grows typically following stimulation of oxygen
and nutrients

Coarsey

6
Vampirococcus
3
- slowly digesting its prey to ensure savor in every moment. The
cornucopia of semi-digested saccharides proved easy to uptake and digest. He was proud
with his new developed his sense of chemotaxis. A feeling emerged, Stan felt weak,
shutting down- WHOOSH! All of the sudden, an explosive gush of fluid overwhelmed
Stan, and had dislodged his adhesive ballast. The fight to stick was futile, and Stan went
for a ride.
Where am I now? This is my receptor, what might it bind? Am I alone?
Exploration. Stan awoke; the turbulent ride had taken him far from the
descending colon. The epithelium was foreign, squamous in nature with packed in tightly
bound layer by cytokeratin
4
. He squirmed his flagellae and adhered to the mucosa. He
managed to implant himself in an ambiguous spot. The colon was all ambiguous, a place
ubiquitous in nature full of goblet cells for micrometers to pelage! There was a stench
creeping over Stan, he was not alone; in fact many were in number were within his sense.
He felt the homoserine lactone
5
sting his membranes in proportion, like the timely
collective pungent concoctions wafting around in a crowded apartment at dusk signifying
great numbers of habitants. He became aware of their presence and wondered if they too
were like him. Just then, two had appeared before him, they were Bill and Sean. Bill
was pink, and had an elongated, slender body covered in thin-featherlike fimbriae; that
were complemented by branching waves of polysaccharides faceted to fatty structures
6
.

3
Vampirococcus: Large predator bacteria, infamously known for preying on other bacteria
4
Cyto- (cell) Keratin: a protein that functions in structual integrity and protection form the external environment
5
Quorum Sensing- A bacterial method of secreting extracellular signals that are chemoattractant (chemical that
stimulates a coordination response) and regulators colony processes (e.g. formation of biofilms, toxin production)
6
Lipopolysaccharide: A powerful endotoxin found on gram-negative bacterial cell membranes. Consists of a branched
sugar chain (polysaccharide), a core oligosaccharide (5-10 sugars), and a toxic Lipid A molecule that sits in the
membrane.
Coarsey

7
Sean was different, he was more like Stan: He had the waves of lipopolysaccharide, but
hers more tinged with glowing green emulation. Within the maze of the branched sugars,
contained several yellow and pink streaks of proteins, K1 antigen, and H antigen
7
. They
were highly variable; he was one of a kind; a pinnacle of microbial evolution!
Bill interceded first as he turned to Stan, Well are you going to be polite?
For Stan it was his first interaction with someone. He cautiously turned to the voice and
wondered: Could he speak?

I am Stan, and I am from the colon, I bode from the descending colon.

I am Bill and this... the other person interjects, I am Sean, nice to meet you.
Tell us, did you catch the wave too? We rode it all the way down from the ileum
8
Sean
continued.
Yes, I am afraid so, I was just enjoying my first fermentations of sugars, and
then whoosh. I must have lost my sense of myself, because now I am here before you
with no recollection Stan answered with an inquisitive tone, to the experienced
travellers.


7
K and H antigens: Variated molecules on the cell surface that mutate fast in order to avoid the host immune response;
found in several gram negative bacteria
8
Ileum: The distal (end) section of the small intestine, characteristically lacks Brunners Glands (mucus) and contains
the Peyers patches (immunological cells) where the microfold cells are found
Coarsey

8
The cryptins
9
. Nasty buggers. Those hairy columns of cells attack us when we
forage. They are the enemy; they take our food and send armies of white devils that
poison us with their globulins and toxins
10
. We were the ones here bef...

BILL! He tumbled over him, Relax! He is new here, far from the ileum, and
does not know what we are up against. Now go on! I shall take care of Stan here, I have
something that will restore his vigor! Sean exclaimed as Stan curiously watched. He
wondered: How can they help me? We are just like ants scurrying around in a rainstorm.
Confused. Tired. They must find shelter. How can Bill and Sean even persist in this
melancholy?
Bill knew what that meant. He took his leave and said he was going to go binge
eat his discontent with the white devils. He would much rather eat than see someone
getting it on. Stan was left behind, but about to make a great leap ahead of his species.

Log Phase

Poor Persephone, She must have been an infectious lover despite the heat.

Denial. It was hot in the colon and Stan made a forward run to Sean; Sean had
something to give him. Damn it was hot, pyrogenic
11
in nature perhaps. Bill had just left
an invasion for the microfold cells
12
, Sean had explained to Stan.

9
Cryptins: Natural host immune peptides that function to prevent bacterial colonization in the gastrointestinal tract.
10
Leukocytes: White Blood Cells responsible for the immune response; utilize an arsenal of toxins and methods of
engulfing foreign pathogens to mount a defense
11
Pyrogenic: Fever-causing
12
Microfold Cells: Pathological target of virulent Salmonella Species; found within the tissues of the ileum
Coarsey

9
Certain beings such as ourselves differ in various ways, Bill used his special
section proteins to inject and invade the column cells. He can even survive inside them
and can avoid all of their attacks for the most part.
For the Most Part he emphasized, Stan thought that maybe Bill had seen his
share of martyrdom and didnt press further it caused even the most anxiety within him.
Much like unseasoned soldiers that fought against the Agesilauss Sacred Band to halt
their conquest- unable to match strength against pedagogy. But he had more to say:
Its better for me to show you than tell you, here!
He translocated a conjugative secretory system, and approached Stan. He was F
+
,
a side effect of horizontal gene transfer
13
. The conjugative system was just another sex
pilus, much longer than any fimbriae Stan had seen. It curved and curled its way through
Seans surface, elongating itself through the sea of extracellular matrix.
So this is it, this is how we defend ourselves? Stan questioned, We fornicate,
in fear that we will be destroyed, is that not a victory in our captor. Has not the
suppressed any dignity left with such a perverse implantation?

Sean jabbed him. His sex pilus was undeniable, it tinged to the insert and
cytoplasm lost its endogenous integrity. The pain was immediate and sharp like a deep
stab of a hypodermic needle, and Stan had been silenced. He had begun his
metamorphosis.


13
Conjugation: a physical transfer of DNA to from a competent F
+
cell (e.g. Virulence genes, growth factor genes);
starts with secretion of a sex pilus (type three secretion system) and insertion into a target cell. it is completed by
exogenous DNA transmission into a cell
Coarsey

10
Cant you see Stan, we are not defending ourselves. We are the attackers, only
progressively getting more virulent, more pathogenic. We are the super bugs. We dont
copulate for fear, we define fear!

Sean broke off; it was done. To his little surprise he tingled, his fimbriae began to
transform and an overwhelming surge of capability overwhelmed him. The green
shimmering that percolated through his fimbriae, were the hemagglutin adhesion
fimbriae
14
. He felt strong and agile. As he and Sean, the superbugs strolled around the
descending colon, a self- awareness overcame Stan and he realized the whole scheme.
The perverse implantation gave Stan the capability to overcome those previous feelings
of aloneness and ambivalence to his existence.
The two sat out to wonder their existences with instilled confidence, but were they
just trudging along. The pink Bill was long gone by now; Sean figured he was joining
the second wave of invaders in the ileum. Having just undergone horizontal gene
transfer, the two down regulated their metabolism and fell into a semi-dormant state
15
.
Realization. In a world somewhere, there is a constant battle occurring. A towing
of the rope back and forth of sorts, Stan is forward running and tumbling as fast as he
can. Why am I running? What am I running from? It is a struggle to keep up the pace, as
if the environment is tread-milling past him. Any forward progression that is taken is met
with equal resistance and retaliation. Alice is running from the Red Queen
16
but cannot
out pace her. The Queen can out pace and move against an advance on Alices part. It

14
Hemagglutin Adhesion Fimbriae: Virulence factor used in the grater ability to adhere and colonize host tissues found
in the Kidneys, Cystic Ducts, Bladder and Urethra (UTIs)
15
Dormancy: During unfavorable conditions, bacteria (and other microbes) can revert to a slowed metabolic state to
conserve energy.
16
Red Queen Hypothesis of Extinction- explains coevolution of a host-pathogen arms race over millions of years
(Humans vs. Human Gut Microbiota)
Coarsey

11
doesnt matter that I can colonize cells and spread. What value is it when they use
another toxin? All I want to do is prosper and live my life! Instead of living in fear, I
chose to become fear. Batter me with all of your worst toxins! Make me stronger! I will
have to overcome you before you even get a chance.

Stationary Phase

Exposed. Stan woke up. It was time; he had his new plan of action time to rouse
the alarm, he was on the offensive. But he had no idea where he was, Sean! SEAN! He
exclaimed as he tumbled around on the unknown surroundings.
Sean retorted in a distantly approaching voice, Stan hang on were on the outside. Weve
been expulsed!, weve been expulsed
17
!
Sean made a forward run to Stan and the two were reunited.
Where are we? Expulsed? What happened to the colon? Stan asked naively.
Well, we were on the wrong end of the this stick. Sean said sheepishly. Dont you
realize what just happened Stan? The colon is the last section of our world. Beyond that
is the extern, and somehow we are very much apart of that! Only in my dreams have I
ever visited this place.
It was a curious landscape, the air- dry much drier than the cavernous colon;
certainly able to desiccate the feeble
18
. The land was all white, whiter than the white
devils as Sean had put it and was all entangling with packs of dense, thick cellulose

17
Defecated.
18
Desiccation: The bacterial cell needs to maintain a certain level of moisture to prevent metabolic collapse. Many
bacteria succumb to desiccation when left in harsh elements, deprived of nutrients.
Coarsey

12
fibers
19
. The two passed troves of fallen comrades twisted into shriveled congealed
lumps of peptidoglycan
20
, and they both shared the omniscient reverence that
overwhelms a battlefront with undulating solace. The warmth of the viscera that they had
known all their lives was gone. This led to an immense feeling of isolation. The two had
survived the exodus from the colon and found their way to Purgatory.
Are we cursed to spend eternity in a Limbo?
Sean broke Stans daydream, We need to stop here and regenerate, without nourishment
our energy status is very low. I can feel my RopS factor
21
turning down my metabolism.
Look at my body, it is changing shape.
Sean shifted into a more spherical form, and Stan followed. They both lay dormant
waiting for the right time to emerge. It was a somber time to reenergize.


Pride. The dormant phase proved beneficial for both, and they had retained their
high energy status. They made their way through the meandering cellulose monoliths,
and pushed towards the faint and growing warmth sensed from ahead. Stan had a
moment of nostalgia: What a long, strange trip its bee. Ive swam waves of
peristalsis,
22
fought off poisons, migrated all through the intestine, and morphed into a
strong warrior. Since I have made it this far, exploiting my new tools at hand, I must
make my own niche.
19


19
Cellulose Fibers: A densely organized chain of polysaccharides; the basic unit of cotton fibers; found in cotton
underwear
20
Peptidoglycan: A major bacterial cell wall component
21
RNA polymerase, sigma S: A special protein that is activated in response to exponential growth of bacteria in
preparation for virulence, pathogenicity, and structure in the stationary phase of characteristic phase of bacteria
22
Peristalsis: The natural coordinated muscular contractions that provide motility during digestion and the ability to
flush out pathogens systemically
Coarsey

13

Look up ahead! I can see mucosa
23
! Lets go! Sean gasped and tumbled away, as Stan
came back to reality.
But before the eager lot could make it, a sign emerged on their horizon as they
approached. There was an overpowering odor as the two came up to the sign, it read:

BIOFILM OF THE UROPEKS.
24
SOLE COLONIZERS OF THE VAGINA. BEWARE
OF FATAL MICTURATION.

By the time they had read the first six words, they were surrounded by bands of angry
warriors. A central focus of the group pushed its way towards the wandering stragglers.
A warlord with exquisite iridescent fimbriae
25
approached them and with a thunderous
low-pitched tone uttered, Who are you and what are you doing here? Dont you know it
is dangerous here?
Please sir, maybe you can help us, we were defecated into a realm of dry cellulose. We
are starving, we bode from the intestine. Sean pleaded.
Ahh... yes the intestine, the powerful one spoke, We come from a long span of
generations that journeyed to the comforts of the Vagina, conditions of the bladder are
just genocidal and have forced us to take refuge here. Any intestinal habitant in need is a
friend of the Uropek Dynasty. The old man reach out his iridescent P fimbriae, I am
the mighty Leader Pyelo of the Uropek. Come we shall give you nourishment.

23
Mucosa: The initial tissue layer of epithelial tissues; contains characteristic structures of cells
24
Biofilm: A collected mass of polysaccharides and proteins design to provide an optimal habitat for microbial growth;
typically manifested by pathogenic bacteria through quorum sensing
25
P Fimbriae: pathogenic adhesive proteins that allow for colonization of the urogenital surface tissues. Found in
Uropathogenic E. coli, UPEC
Coarsey

14
Stan implored, Master Pyelo, give us the P fimbriae, let us copulate and join in force.
Pervert us with the ability to survive this harsh land.
I suppose you will need P fimbriae to adhere to our biofilms, Pyelo rationalized.
Yes, and we shall assist in any way no matter what! Sean declared.
The ambivalent leader gave way to his internal instincts of trust, and willfully retracted
his sex pilus, let us conjugate and spread prosperity for all. He jabbed both Sean and
Stan. Immediately they secreted their own iridescent P fimbriae.
The journey into the mucosal abyss proved scenic: roves of squamous cells that formed
layers of thick mucus
26
. Many lactobacilli
27
were in fermenting in fields of lactic acid,
the smell was quite pungent. They passed along rows of biofilm structures that seemed to
provide structural and nutritional support of the colony. They came upon the biofilm the
center. It was a congealed rotunda that sat in the middle of two passages. Along further
down the abyssal plain, they were taken by Pyelo to the steps of a foyer. They waited
outside as Pyelo went to find his sugar stores for the famished souls within the halls of
biofilm.
You know Stan this is a very commensal society
28
. Did you see the others working with
other species to maintain this colony? It is interesting; I wonder if they confer the same
pathogenicity that I gave you. If they were defeated in their home niche and driven to
this refugee camp, can we help them?


26
The vagina contains a thin layer of mucus that is secreted by vaginal and cervical squamous cells
27
Lactobacillus: Gram-positive bacteria that are a natural commensal bacteria of the vaginal flora. Provide an acidic
environment to prevent pathogenic microbial growth
28
Commensal: A symbiotic relationship in which one party benefits off another without causing them harm nor in
return for mutualism
Coarsey

15
Before Stan could answer, Pyelo returned, Here you are, as he delivered fresh
carbohydrates, Now I advise you to lay low the demons still flush us with waves of urea
and their toxins, and you dont want to be too flashy. I see that you have skillful
capabilities by those colorful fimbriae, but they are no camouflage. One of their legions
will notice, target you and kill you with porin weapons
29
. Do you want to be lysed?
Stan immediately flashed back to the moment of his loss of innocence. Those
shimmering green fimbriae were a painful reminder of his perversion, but still were a
powerful trait. He was different now. He was the solution; perverse implantation had
now been justified.
Let me tell you something, the only thing happening here is your indifference to reality.
Stan exclaimed, he was fired up and ready to preach his gospel. WAKE UP! We have
the power to rid the world of the demons that trap us, starve us and kill us. We are
superbugs, we eat chloramphenicol
30
for breakfast! Now stand aside as we modulate your
followers in unity to eliminate these terrorists once and for all.
At that moment every person in sight was jabbed by Sean or Stan, their
motivation was astounding, and the scene even grimmer. People were cringing,
tumbling, running, and spinning in all directions. This situation was chaotic, and the
lactobacilli had scurried away. After the chaos had settled, people emerged with
shimmery green fimbriae and a new sense of perseverance. The Uropek were no more;
they had become the perverted pervasive, multidrug resistant. Leader Pyelo looked upon
his colony with disdain, it was not the same anymore. The commensal, non-invasive co-
op had turned into a hording ground of rowdy soldiers. His soul crumbled and he uttered

29
Perforin toxin: A substance secreted by certain immune cells that creates a fatal membrane pore within its target
30
Chloramphenicol: A powerful broad-spectrum antibiotic that is not only toxic to bacteria, but ironically toxic to
humans as well
Coarsey

16
in a frail voice, The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. All is
ruined, the oppressors will only get stronger and more merciless.
The feelings were too much for him and overwhelmed him. He was the last
Mohican of his kind. He shriveled his cell membrane and strafed over to the urethral
abyss. His apoptotic ridden
31
body cast itself over the side of the yellow-stained pit. Not
even his nucleoid
32
was left behind.

Ascent. The growing horde lacked focus; there was a generalized melancholy as
people flocked around wondering what happened to their leader. Stan and Sean had
created an untamable beast, and order was impossible to grasp. Then it happened again,
that unnerving sound: WHOOSH!
A stream of urination had shaken the land. Everyone took cue to inject P fimbriae
into the mucosa. Stan and Sean followed. The amber wave troughed over the colony, and
pieces of biofilm became dislodged carrying away dozens of shrieking colonizers. The
rest held their ground, like a stone. The sting of urea, hints of glucose, and slight hCG
33

overwhelmed the senses. Regardlessly, the urine swiftly entered, as fast as it exited the
vagina.
Something was amiss. Stan glanced around and noticed his first touch was gone.
Sean had been brushed away by the ochre blight, and never would return. Amongst the
derelict disarray of the biofilm, Stan roared in fury, Brothers! See now the fallacy you
were lead believe. This orifice has no mercy for us. We must make our exit and head to

31
Apoptosis: A type of Programmed Cell-Death that is coordinated by responses to stress and harsh environments
32
Nucleoid: The region of a bacterial cell where Chromosomal DNA is contained
33
hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): A human hormone secreted during the first weeks of pregnancy to stimulate
placental growth; Typically the first line hormone to confirm pregnancy
Coarsey

17
higher ground. The mucus here is not a commensal but merely a cretin, solely out to
destroy our destiny. Take charge of your acquired bulwark, we must form an
aggregation
34
and attack in magnitude.
There was no contempt for Stans words among the vaginal colonizers. They had
sympathy for the late Pyelo. His message echoed a world of past and ancient
generations, perhaps even the pure culture
26
. The commensals were the beginning. Only
when the ignorant thirst for sustenance, taken from the primordial being- that was when
things began to change. The being was dissatisfied and developed His armies to kill,
pillage, and eradicate all people. Commensals no longer had a home, the smartest
conclusion was to adapt, evolve, and overcome. The colonizers had thus not seen their
leader fall in vain, but as the One martyr for all cultures of people.
Here Here! the once commensals obliged, We march with you Leader Stan,
your logic is omnipotent. We shall follow you!
I am honored, I shall now secrete my acquired aggregation proteins to start the
aggregate. Then, once we form the aggregate-colony, we will need a guide through the
urinary tract. Stan replied, insecure with his spatial direction.
I have the strength of one thousand men. This place is unknown to me. I not only need a
guide. I need someone to trust.
Me! I am a well-traveled rod! My name is Tim. Said a guileless young
Proteus
35
. He flipped and swarmed in the plight of his ostentatiousness. The young
person was much different from Stan and the others. He had a protein that relaxed the

34
Aggregation: A mass of bacterial cell held by biofilm adhesions, that function to mobilize a colony; Typical of
Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)
35
Proteus: A typical pathogen of the urinary tract with the ability to form urinary tract stones; has the ability of high
motility
Coarsey

18
environment around Stan. He felt the immense acidity around him scuttle away; it must
have been a urease
36
!
The young Tim continued, I have been up through the vagina and beyond, there
lies the sea of the bladder. A mighty ocean of filthy epithelia, pulsating with intense
pressures
37
! The treasures lie beyond...
Treasures, whatever you seek young Tim, is your business. Our hemolysins
38

and antiphagocytic biofilms
39
shall surely imply my sole intention. Destruction, chaos,
and eradication are the means we employ. Vengeance for all our fallen comrades!

Senescence

Fall. The trek up the urethra proved difficult. The young Tom and a few scouts
had gone ahead to explore and ahead to ward off invaders. As the smells of precious
sugars and ketones glistened on the membranes, it provided a source for which the young
Proteus and Stan to follow. The white devils appeared. Port, starboard, all sides
surrounding. They were inquisitive, as if they had never encountered an aggregate so
massive. They could not see the colonies of aggressive warriors beneath. The cloak of
the biofilm prevented the immune cells from seeing them. It was a marginal victory over
the white devils.
It was a success. I have created a mobile fortress. I am the pinnacle of evolution: The
result of countless cycles of conjugation, and innumerable throws of loss. It is my time.

36
Urease: A pathogenic enzyme that cleaves urea, an organic compound that is 50% content of urine, into ammonium,
thus creating a less acidic environment; this creates a more favorable environment for tolerance
37
The urinary bladder contains cells with the ability to expand and contract depending on the volume of urine stored.
38
Hemolysins: pathogenic factor that results in the degradation of urogenital tissues and cells
39
Antiphagocytic: prevents the immune system from engulfing the bacteria; through the viscous biofilm
Coarsey

19
Young Tom! Come here boy, Stan beckoned to his faithful navigator.
Young Tom came at once, subservient to his leader, swarmed in a peritrichous
fashion
40
.
Sir what is it, you dont look so vivacious. Are you all right?
Young Tom, it is you I chose to lead the aggregate colony to the paradise of the
beyond? It is my time, I can feel my membranes depolarize
41
. It will be only a matter of
time now. Stan said as he felt the inclusions of vacuoles overcome him.
Tom, take the aggregate to the lands of nourishment, guide them, use any means
necessary. Be warned, the toxins and the white devils, protect my people. My faith is in
you.
Stan faded out, his fimbriae detached, a swelling of his gut arose. Then, Stan
burst, his proteins and cytosol spilled out-now one with everything. His DNA had been
destroyed, eviscerated by mucosal endonucleases
42
. The physical Stan was no more.

Division. In the far reaches of the aggregate-colony, something stirred within the
Fallen Leaders aggregated biofilm: A young product of binary fission
43
perverse in the
ways of his creator, bound and emerging from a fresh lag phase
44
. A sign reads:
HERE LIES THE PROGENY OF STAN, THE PERVERSE IMPLANTATION.
REBORN FOR YOU TO LEAD AGAIN.


40
Peritrichous: Description of a bacteria that is surrounded by flagella; typically highly mobile
41
Membrane Depolarization: The loss of negative charge in the cell membrane, typically an indicator of ceased
metabolic function and imminent death
42
Mucosal Endonucleases: Extracellular enzymes used to degrade exogenous DNA that could harm the cell; A part of
the innate immunity
43
Binary Fission: The cyclic process of bacterial reproduction of a completely identical daughter cell
44
Lag Phase: The initial phase of bacterial growth; this represents slow growth and acquisition of nutrients; followed
by Log Phase, the Stationary Phase, lastly Senescence