[quote=@Isotope]
Only one sort of 'critter' will gain enough to be intelligent (as in making ships) from consuming the mat, but yes theoretically everything that feeds off it would have some sort of aggressive reaction to it coming under attack.
[/quote]

So, what would happen if a sentient creature ate of it? Would it still gain intelligence, despite already being sapient, but also start to feel a desire to help the mat? Or would the microbes simply not infiltrate?