Although the researchers are not sure how bacteria detect airborne ammonia, they have some hypotheses about why bacteria produce slime in response to volatile ammonia.

尽管研究人员并不确定细菌是如何识别出到空气中的氨，但他们已经有了某些假设关于细菌为何能产生粘液以回应挥发性的氨。

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He also speculates that slime could protect bacteria from high levels of toxic gas.

他同时猜测粘液能够保护细菌免受有毒气体的侵害。

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The experimenters tested whether they could replicate the slime gradient in other kinds of bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli.

研究人员对是否能够在其他种类的细菌，包括枯草芽孢杆菌，藤黄微球菌以及大肠杆菌中重现这种浓度梯度进行了试验。

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Bacteria or good old slime are more likely.

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Sold at high-end U.S. stores like Whole Foods, it comes in flavors like Sublime Slime Lime and contains a hefty dose of 7 billion to 10 billion good bacteria that "inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria" in the gut, according to Lifeway's website.

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