Tag Archives: biologists

Biologists Discover How Plants Detect Heat During the Day

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A recent study conducted by the University of California reveals that plants utilize a variety of thermosensory systems, with sunlight-generated sugar playing a critical and previously overlooked role in their responses to daytime temperatures.

Arabidopsis plants showing growth in greenhouses. Image credit: Elena Zhukova/UCR.

“Textbooks traditionally assert that proteins like phytochrome B and early flowering 3 (ELF3) are primarily responsible for thermoregulation in plants,” noted Professor Chen.

“However, these theories are derived from data collected at night.”

“We aimed to explore the dynamics during the day when both light and temperature are elevated, reflecting the typical conditions most plants encounter.”

Professor Chen and his team conducted their research using Arabidopsis, a favored small flowering plant within the Institute of Genetics.

The researchers subjected the seedlings to temperatures from 12-27 degrees Celsius under varying light settings and monitored the elongation of hypocotyls, a classic indicator of growth response to warmth.

They discovered that phytochrome B, the photosensitive protein, could only sense temperature in low light. In bright conditions that mimicked midday sunlight, its ability to detect warmth was significantly inhibited.

Interestingly, plants continued to respond to heat, and their growth metrics remained elevated even when the thermosensory function of phytochrome B was curtailed.

“This highlights the existence of other sensory mechanisms,” Professor Chen remarked.

One significant observation stemmed from examining phytochrome B mutants that lacked thermosensory capabilities.

These mutants were only able to react to warmth when grown under light conditions.

In darkness, devoid of photosynthesis, they lost chloroplasts and did not exhibit increased growth in response to warmth.

However, their temperature response was restored upon reintroducing sugar to the growth medium.

“That was the point I realized that sugar does more than just promote growth; it serves as a signal indicating warmth,” Professor Chen explained.

Additional experiments demonstrated that elevated temperatures lead to the breakdown of stored starch in leaves, releasing sucrose.

This sugar stabilized a protein called PIF4, a crucial growth regulator. In the absence of sucrose, PIF4 would decompose rapidly, but its accumulation only occurred when another sensor, ELF3, became inactive and responded to heat.

“PIF4 requires two conditions: access to sugars and relief from suppression. Temperature facilitates both,” Professor Chen added.

This research unveils a complex network of systems. During daylight, when light serves as an energy source for carbon fixation, sugar-based mechanisms have evolved that enable plants to sense environmental changes.

As temperatures rise, stored starch transforms into sugar, permitting essential growth proteins to function.

The implications of these findings are noteworthy. As climate change brings about extreme temperatures, understanding the mechanisms plants use to sense heat may assist scientists in developing crops that thrive under increasingly unpredictable stress.

“This will transform our understanding of how plants perceive temperature,” Professor Chen remarked.

“It’s not merely about proteins activating or deactivating; it’s about energy, light, sugar, and more.”

“The results also emphasize the intricate sophistication found in the plant kingdom.”

“There’s a hidden intelligence in photosynthesis and the management of starch reserves.”

“When the moment arrives for them to reach for the sky, they do so with sweetness and precision.”

study published in the journal Natural Communication.

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D. Fan et al. 2025. Multi-sensor high temperature signaling framework for triggering daytime thermochemistry. Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 16, 5197; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-60498-7

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of Hemifusomes: Biologists Unveil New Organelle Complexes in Human Cells

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A team of biologists from the University of Virginia and the National Institutes of Health has found that half of certain organelles can make up to 10% of vesicle organelles present in cells, yet they do not follow the typical endocytotic pathway.

Cutting-edge Cryo-Electron microscope images of rat-1 cells cultured on Cryo-EM grids. The lamellipodia and filopodia in the upper right corner illustrate the cell boundary, distinguishing the cytoplasm from the extracellular space (ext). Various vesicle organelles are highlighted, including early endosomal-like vesicles (EN, pink), multinuclear bodies (MVB, blue), hemispores (HF, yellow), and inverted hemifusomes (FHF, green). Scale bar – 0.5 µm. Image credit: Tavakoli et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59887-9.

“It’s like uncovering a new recycling center within a cell,” remarked Dr. Seham Ebrahim, a researcher at the University of Virginia.

“Many believe it plays a role in how cells manage their packaging and processing of materials. If this process fails, it can lead to diseases affecting multiple systems in the body.”

“One such condition is Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that may result in albinism, visual impairments, lung issues, and problems with blood clotting.”

“The challenges related to how cells manage their cargo are central to many of these issues.”

“We’re just beginning to grasp how these new organelles fit into the broader context of cellular health and disease.”

“This discovery is thrilling because finding a genuinely new internal cell is rare, and it opens up avenues for exploring entirely new paths.”

Utilizing Cryo-Electron tomography (Cryo-ET), the researchers managed to capture a significant number of images.

They propose that these organelles facilitate the creation of vesicle-based organelles, which function like mixing bowls, small blister-like sacs, and multiple vesicles.

This process plays a critical role in cellular sorting, recycling, and debris management.

Dr. Ebrahim stated, “You can think of vesicles as small delivery trucks within a cell.”

“Part of it functions like a loading dock where cargo is connected and transferred. It’s a step in the process we were unaware of.”

Many of these organelles have gone unnoticed but are surprisingly prevalent in certain areas of the cell.

Researchers aim to enhance their understanding of their significance in proper cell functioning and how issues with them can lead to diseases.

Such findings may contribute to targeted treatments for a range of serious genetic disorders.

“This is only the beginning,” Dr. Ebrahim noted.

“Now that we’ve confirmed the existence of hemifusomes, we can explore their behavior in healthy cells and investigate what occurs when problems arise.”

“It could pave the way for new strategies to address complex genetic disorders.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Nature Communications.

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A. Cigarette et al. 2025. Proteolipid nanosap interacting with half of hemifusomes mediates polyspore formation. Nat Commun 16, 4609; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59887-9

Source: www.sci.news

New Phylums of Bacteria Uncovered in Earth’s Deep Soil by Biologists

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Deep Soils – Depending on the type and area of ​​soil, ranges from less than 30 cm (12 inches) to several hundred meters are neglected ecosystems within important zones of the Earth. Biologists have now discovered a wide and relatively abundant bacterial phyla, named CSP1-3, in deep soils, and evaluated its phylogenetic, ecology, metabolism, and evolutionary history.

A diagram showing the history of evolution from aquatic organisms and adaptive characteristics of CSP1-3 phylums in each habitat. Image credit: Michigan State University.

“The key zone extends from above the trees through the soil to a maximum of 213 m (700 feet),” said Professor James Tiedee of Michigan State University.

“This zone supports most life on the planet as it regulates critical processes such as soil formation, water circulation and nutrition cycling, which are essential for food production, water quality, and ecosystem health.”

“Despite its importance, the deep critical zone is a new frontier, as it is a relatively unexplored part of the Earth.”

Professor Tiedje and his colleagues discovered a completely different microbial phylum called CSP1-3 in this huge, unexplored world of microorganisms.

This new gate was identified in soil samples ranging from both Iowa and China up to 70 feet (21 m) deep.

“Why Iowa and China? Because these two regions have very deep and similar soils and I want to know if their occurrence is more common than just one region,” Professor Tiedje said.

Researchers extracted DNA from these deep soils and discovered that CSP1-3 ancestors lived in water millions of years ago.

They undergo at least one major habitat transition to colonize the soil environment. It is in the first topsoil and the deep soil that followed, within its evolutionary history.

Scientists also discovered that CSP1-3 microorganisms are active.

“Most people think that these organisms are like spores and dormant,” Professor Thiedeye said.

“But one of the important findings we found by examining DNA is that these microorganisms are growing actively and slowly.”

The authors were also surprised that these microorganisms were not unusual members of the community, but dominated. In some cases, they made up more than 50% of the community, but this is by no means the case in surface soils.

“I think this happened because deep soils are very different environments and this group of organisms evolved over a long period of time to adapt to this poor soil environment,” Professor Tiedje said.

a paper The explanation of the survey results was published on March 18th. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Wenlu Feng et al. 2025. Diversification, niche adaptation, and evolution of candidate phylums that thrive in deep critical zones. pnas 122 (12): E2424463122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2424463122

Source: www.sci.news

Biologists Use High Resolution Imaging to Study Iberian Rib Neutrons.

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Aquariums in the aquatic tail, called Newt, have a large genome with many repetitive factors. It is unknown how these elements form genome and relate to the unique playback ability of Newt. In the new research, scientists Carolinska Research Institute In other places, a chromosomal scale genomic sequence was generated. Newt with Iberia ribs (Pleurodeles Waltl)。

brown et al。 We present a chromosome scale assembly of 20.3 GB genome with Iberian ribs (Pleurodeles Waltl), It has an unprecedented continuity and integrity between giant genomes. Image credit: Brown et al。 , Doi: 10.1016/j.xgen.2025.100761.

Iberia's ribs, which are also known as gully parts or Spanish ribs, are a species of Newt. Climate disease To Spain, Portugal, Morocco.

This kind is known for its wide flat head and sharp RIB bone that can make a hole in its side.

Men measure up to 31 cm (12.2 inches) for men and up to 29 cm (11.4 inches) for women. North African specimens are smaller than European population specimens.

“Iberia's Ribbal Newt boasts an impressive playback roster that can reconstruct lost limbs and regenerate damaged organizations of complex organs, brain, heart, and eyes,” he said. A research institute professor Andas Simon and his colleagues said.

“The use of this model type is greatly enhanced by high -quality genomic assembly and annotation.”

“But this was a challenge for a considerable concentration of a large 20 GB genomal size and a repeated element sequence.”

The authors have discovered that repeated elements account for 74 % of Iberia's ribs of Newt genome content.

“This was a technical challenge, but I succeeded in a more detailed mapping that was more comprehensive than other species of similar genome size,” said Simon.

“We have determined the accurate position of both protein cord sequences and non -coded sequences of each chromosome,” said Karolinska Institute Ph.D. Student Ketan Michela.

“In addition, we have identified which protein corded gene is lacking in the genome of the newt, or has more copies than other species.”

“The result is an important resource for researchers in several fields, such as the evolution, regeneration and development of development of genome, and cancer biology.”

“The next step of the research is to focus on functional research. This is to manipulate the molecular process and determine how these will affect the regenerative ability.”

“In addition, we plan to conduct comparative research with other species to further understand these mechanisms.”

Survey results It will be displayed in the journal Cell genomics。

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Thomas Brown et al。 The chromosome genome assembly reveals how the repetitive errors form a non -coding RNA landscape that is active during the rehabilitation of the neut limb. Cell genomicsReleased online on January 27, 2025. Doi: 10.1016/j.xgen.2025.100761

Source: www.sci.news

Evidence of Electrical Signaling and Coordinated Behavior Uncovered in Choanoflagellates by Biologists

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Scientists of University of Bergen: The surprising diversity of behavior within the rosette-shaped colony has been revealed. Salpingoeca Rosetta is a rare species of choanoflagellates – the closest relatives of animals.

Artwork depicting calcium signaling in rosette colonies of choanoflagellates Salpingoeca Rosetta. Image credit: Davis Laundon & Kate Zvorykina, Ella MAR Studio, Inc.

“We discovered that communication takes place between the cells of the colony, which regulates the overall shape of the rosette and the beating of the ciliary body,” said Dr. Jeffrey Colgren, a researcher at the Michael Szasz Center at the University of Bergen. Ta.

“Before I put the cultures under the microscope, I didn’t really have any expectations of what I was going to see in the cultures, but once I saw them, I was really excited.”

Multicellularity is a defining feature of all animals, allowing animals to interact with their environment in unique ways by integrating input from highly specialized cell types such as neurons and muscle cells. make it possible.

In the case of choanoflagellates, flagellated bacterial organisms found in marine and aquatic environments around the world, the boundaries between unicellularity and multicellularity are less clear-cut.

including some species Salpingoeca Rosetta exhibiting a complex life cycle that includes a colonial period.

Colonies are formed by cell division, similar to the development of animal embryos, but they do not have specialized cell types and resemble groups of individual cells rather than cohesive organisms.

“Salpingoeca Rosetta “This is a powerful model to study the emergence of multicellularity in animal evolution,” said Dr. Pawel Burkhardt, also from the Michael Saas Center at the University of Bergen.

“Our study provides interesting insights into early sensorimotor systems, as it reveals that colonial flagellates coordinate their movements through a common signaling pathway.”

Using a newly developed genetic tool that can visualize calcium activity Salpingoeca Rosetta The authors found that the cells synchronize their behavior through voltage-gated calcium channels, the same type of channels used by neurons and muscle cells in animals.

“This evidence of how information flows between cells in a choanoflagellate colony points to cell-to-cell signaling at the apex of multicellularity,” Dr. Colgren said.

“Surprisingly, this discovery suggests that the ability to coordinate movement at the cellular level predates the first animals.”

The research team now plans to further investigate how signals are propagated between cells and whether similar mechanisms exist in other choanoflagellate species.

“The tools developed and the results of this study reveal many new and interesting questions,” said Dr. Colgren.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing what direction ourselves and others take this in the future.”

a paper A description of the discovery was published in a magazine scientific progress.

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Jeffrey Colgren and Pawel Burkhardt. 2025. Electrical signaling and cooperative behavior in animals’ closest relatives. scientific progress 11(2);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr7434

Source: www.sci.news

Biologists claim geckos possess an extra sense

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To detect low-frequency vibrations, geckos use the saccule, a part of the inner ear traditionally associated with maintaining balance and body position, the institute’s biologist duo said. University of Marylandthis special “sixth sense” serves as a complement to the gecko’s normal sense of hearing and how it senses the world around it.

Tokay gecko (gecko gecko). Image credit: Duncan Leach.

“As we know, the ear hears sounds in the air,” says Katherine Kerr, a professor at the University of Maryland.

“However, this ancient internal pathway is usually associated with balance and helps geckos sense vibrations traveling through media such as the ground or water.”

“This pathway is present in amphibians and fish, and has now been shown to be conserved in lizards.”

“Our findings reveal how the auditory system evolved from being visible in fish to being visible in land animals, including humans.”

In their research, Professor Kerr and colleague Dr. Dawei Han, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Maryland, focused on: Tokay gecko (gecko gecko).

They discovered that the gecko’s saccule can sense weak vibrations in the 50 to 200 Hz range. This is a much lower spectrum than what geckos can normally hear.

This indicates that the saccule serves a different, but complementary, function to the gecko’s normal auditory system.

Geckos can hear sounds in the air, but many other reptiles do not have this ability.

“Discovery of the role of the saccule in gecko hearing may lead to a better understanding of communication and behavior in other animals previously thought to have limited hearing ability,” said Dawei of the University of Maryland.・Dr. Han said.

“Many snakes and lizards were thought to be ‘dumb’ or ‘deaf’ in the sense that they could not make or hear sounds very well.”

“But it turns out that animals could potentially be using this sensory pathway to communicate via vibrational signals. This has revolutionized the way scientists think about animal perception as a whole. Ta.”

The existence of this common sensory pathway in modern reptiles provides a unique window into the evolutionary history of vertebrate sensory systems, suggesting that the transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments may be more complex than previously thought. This suggests that gradual changes in auditory mechanisms are likely involved.

Although these discoveries are not directly related to human hearing, researchers believe there is always more than meets the eye – in this case, the ears.

“Think about going to a live rock concert,” Professor Kerr says.

“The sound is so loud that you can feel your whole head and body vibrating in the sound field.”

“You don’t just hear music, you can feel it. This sensation suggests that the human vestibular system may be stimulated during loud concerts, which This means that the sense of balance may also be closely related.

of findings Published in a magazine current biology.

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Dawei Han & Catherine E. Kartkay The gecko’s auditory pathway for sensing vibrations. current biologypublished online on October 4, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.09.016

Source: www.sci.news

New Fish Species Found in Mauritanian Waters by Marine Biologists

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A new species of three-bearded rockfish has been described from a specimen taken from a depth of 595 metres in the Tanoudre Valley, off the coast of Mauritania.

Guidelopsarus mauritanicus Hiding under a branching whitish bryozoan Serena reference. Lucida Image courtesy of Tomas Lundelf, University of Gothenburg.

order Cod These include some of the most important species for commercial fisheries today.

There are also small species in this genus, such as the Three-bearded Bulbul. Guide Lopezal Although it has little commercial value, its range is surprisingly wide.

“More than a quarter of all commercially caught marine fish in the world belong to the cod family. Cod family” These include fish species such as Atlantic cod, Alaskan pollock and haddock, which are particularly economically important,” said Dr. Alexander Norn, researcher at Senckenberg am Meer and the University of Bremen.

“However, the Gadidae family also includes much smaller, little known and less studied fish families, such as the Sardinae (Guidelopsalidae), of little commercial value but astonishingly wide in scope.”

The newly described species lives in deep-sea coral reefs off the coast of Mauritania.

“This is the site of the world's largest deep-sea coral reef system, the Mauritanian Wall. The reef stretches for at least 580 kilometres and is 80-100 metres high,” the biologists said.

Scientific Name Guidelopsarus mauritanicus The new species is just 7.3 centimetres long.

this is, Guide Lopezal The species was collected from Tasmania, the most remote geographic location of the samples the team studied.

“Guidelopsarus mauritanicus “It can be distinguished from other fish of the same species based on a combination of different characteristics, including large eyes, a head that takes up a quarter of its body length, long, slender pelvic fins and pink body colour,” Dr Norn said.

“Genetic analysis confirmed that this is a previously undescribed species.”

“Guidelopsarus mauritanicus They were caught with the help of grubs, along with a variety of live deep-sea animals, including framework-forming stony corals and other corals. Desmophyllum pertussum or red deep sea gorgonian Swiftia PhaetonIt also contains colonies of large sponges, bryozoans, starfish, annelids, decapod crustaceans, snails and bivalve mollusks.”

“Also, in the video footage, Guidelopsarus mauritanicus They live exclusively in deep sea coral ecosystems. One of the specimens we saw had whitish spots on its skin. This was the only fish we could see hiding under a branching, whitish bryozoan. Serena reference. Lucida.”

a paper The article describing this discovery Journal of Fish Biology.

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Alexander H. Norn others. Guidelopsarus mauritanicus (Gadiformes, Gaidropsaridae) A new species of three-baleen redfish from a deep-sea coral ecosystem. The biogeographical distribution of the genus is genetically verified, and notes on its ecology and behavior are provided. Journal of Fish Biology Published online August 16, 2024; doi: 10.1111/jfb.15859

Source: www.sci.news

Biologists find a variety of bacterial communities in microwave ovens

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Microwave ovens have become an essential part of the modern kitchen, yet their potential as a reservoir for bacterial colonization and the microbial composition within them remain largely unknown. In a new study, microbiologists from the University of Valencia and Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL investigated the bacterial communities within microwave ovens and compared the microbial composition of domestic microwave ovens, microwaves used in large shared spaces, and laboratory microwaves. The bacterial populations in microwave ovens were dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, similar to the bacterial composition of human skin. Comparison with other environments revealed that the bacterial composition of domestic microwave ovens was similar to that of kitchen surfaces, while laboratory microwave ovens contained a higher proportion of species known to tolerate microwave radiation, high temperatures, and dryness.

Iglesias othersMicrowaves were shown to harbor specialized communities of locally adapted microbial genera similar to those reported on kitchen surfaces and solar panels, environments with extremely high radiation exposure.

Microorganisms thriving in ecosystems characterized by extreme environmental conditions have been well studied to elucidate the evolutionary mechanisms that favor their adaptation.

Natural extreme environments are an excellent source of new microbial species as well as new secondary metabolites for biotechnological applications, but we don’t have to go very far to find them.

Microwave irradiation has been used for decades to reduce the presence of microorganisms in foods and to extend the shelf life of foods.

The application of electromagnetic waves in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz to a dielectric medium such as food (also known as microwave heating) produces heat that reaches a lethal temperature that inactivates most microorganisms. E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Listeria Genus

Recent studies have shown that cellular inactivation is associated with inactivation of genes controlling oxidation, DNA damage, increased permeability, and reduced cell membrane integrity.

Despite this extensive characterization of the biological effects of microwave radiation on foodborne pathogens, there have been no reports of microwaves being a microbial niche, an environment in which a specifically adapted microbiota can form through specific selective pressures (in this case heat shock, microwave radiation, and desiccation).

“Our results reveal that domestic microwaves harbor a more 'humanised' microbiome, similar to kitchen surfaces, while laboratory microwaves harbour bacteria that are more resistant to radiation,” said Dr Daniel Trent, Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL researcher.

For the study, Dr Trent and his colleagues sampled microorganisms from inside 30 microwaves: 10 from household kitchens, 10 from shared household spaces such as corporate centers, science labs and cafeterias, and 10 from molecular biology and microbiology laboratories.

The aim of this sampling plan was to determine whether these microbial populations were influenced by interactions with food and by user habits.

They used two complementary methods to explore microbial diversity: next-generation sequencing and culturing 101 strains in five different media.

In total, the authors found 747 different genera within 25 bacterial phyla. The most frequently encountered phyla were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and especially Proteobacteria.

The researchers found that the composition of the general microbial community partially overlapped between shared and domestic microwave ovens, but was quite different in laboratory microwave ovens.

Diversity was lowest in home microwaves and highest in laboratory microwaves.

Members of the genus Acinetobacter, Bhargavaea, Brevibacterium, Brevundimonas, Dermatococcus, Klebsiella, Pantoea, Pseudoxanthomonas and Rhizobium It has only been found in domestic microwave ovens.

Arthrobacter, Enterobacter, Yanibacter, Methylobacterium, Neobacillus, Nocardioides, Novosphingobium, Paenibacillus, Peribacillus, Planococcus, Russia, Sporosarcinaand Teribacillus This was only seen in items shared within the household.

Nonomura The bacteria was isolated only from laboratory microwaves. Delftia, Micrococcus, Deinococcus Unidentified genera of the phylum Cyanobacteria were also common and were found at a significantly higher frequency than in Japan.

The researchers also compared the observed diversity with the diversity of specialized habitats reported in the literature.

As expected, the microbiome inside the microwave was similar to that present on typical kitchen surfaces.

“Some genera found in domestic microwave ovens include Klebsiella, Enterococcus and Aeromonaswhich could pose a health risk to humans,” Dr Trent said.

“However, it is important to note that the microorganisms living in microwave ovens do not pose any unique or increased risk compared to other common kitchen surfaces.”

But it also had similarities to the microbiome in industrial environments, namely on solar panels.

The scientists proposed that the constant heat shock, electromagnetic radiation and desiccation in this highly radioactive environment repeatedly selected for more resistant microorganisms, just as occurs in microwave ovens.

“We encourage both the public and laboratory personnel to regularly disinfect their microwave ovens with a diluted bleach solution or a commercially available disinfectant spray,” Dr. Trent said.

“In addition, it's important to wipe down interior surfaces with a damp cloth after each use to remove any residue and wipe up any spills immediately to prevent bacterial growth.”

of result Published in the journal The cutting edge of microbiology.

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Alba Iglesias others2024. The microwave bacteriome: biodiversity in domestic and laboratory microwave ovens. Front. Microbiol 15;doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1395751

Source: www.sci.news

Biologists find ancient giant virus inserted into genome of a single-celled parasite

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Amoebidium appalachenseViruses in protists closely related to animals weave remnants of ancient giant viruses into their genetic code, according to a new study led by Queen Mary, University of London. The discovery sheds light on how complex organisms acquire parts of their genes and highlights the dynamic interplay between viruses and their hosts.

Amoebidium appalachense A unique model for understanding the hybrid origin of eukaryotic DNA. Image courtesy of Alex de Mendoza.

In this study, Dr. Alex de Mendoza Soler and his colleagues Amoebidium appalachense A unicellular parasite first isolated from the epidermis of a freshwater arthropod.

They found a surprising amount of genetic material from giant viruses, some of the largest known to science.

The sequences of these viruses are highly methylated, a chemical tag that often silences genes.

“It's like a hidden Trojan horse. Amoebidium appalachense It’s the DNA of,” says Dr. de Mendoza Soler.

“These viral insertions are potentially harmful, but Amoebidium appalachense It seems like we are suppressing them by chemically silencing them.”

The researchers then investigated how widespread this phenomenon may be.

They are some Amoebidium appalachense Examination of the isolates revealed wide variation in viral content.

This suggests that the processes of viral integration and silencing are continuous and dynamic.

“These findings call into question our understanding of viruses and the relationship between them and their hosts,” said Dr de Mendoza Soler.

“Traditionally, viruses are thought of as invaders, but this study suggests a more complex story.”

“Viral insertions may have played a role in the evolution of complex organisms by contributing new genes.”

“And this can be done by chemically controlling the invader's DNA.”

moreover, Amoebidium appalachense It shows intriguing parallels to how our own genomes interact with viruses.

It's similar to Amoebidium appalachense Humans and other mammals carry remnants of ancient viruses called endogenous retroviruses built into their DNA.

These remnants were previously thought to be inactive junk DNA, but now it appears some may be beneficial.

but, Amoebidium appalachense Endogenous retroviruses are much smaller, while the human genome is significantly larger.

Future studies can explore these similarities and differences to understand the intricate interactions between viruses and complex life forms.

Team Investigation result Published in today's journal Scientific advances.

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Luke A. Saleh others 2024. DNA methylation enables recurrent internalization of giant viruses in animal relatives. Scientific advances 10(28); Source: 10.1126/sciadv.ado6406

This article has been edited from an original release from Queen Mary, University of London.

Source: www.sci.news

Mutated, Genetically Unique Strains of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Found on the ISS by Biologists

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Enterobacter bugandensis It is mainly present in clinical specimens such as the human gastrointestinal tract.

Example workflow illustrating the process of comparative genomics analysis Enterobacter bugandensis, its prevalence and metabolic interactions within the microbial community, and assess its adaptation success within the ISS habitat. Image credit: Sengupta other., doi: 10.1186/s40168-024-01777-1.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a testament to humanity's achievements in space exploration.

Despite a highly controlled environment characterized by microgravity, increased carbon dioxide levels, and increased solar radiation, microorganisms occupy a unique niche.

These resident microbial bacteria play an important role in influencing the health and well-being of astronauts.

One particularly interesting microorganism is the Enterobacter bugandensis, a Gram-negative bacterium notorious for its multidrug resistance.

“Microorganisms in the built environment have a significant impact on the health of residents,” says the lead author Dr. Kastri Venkateswaran by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and colleagues.

“The ISS is a highly controlled built environment with extreme conditions such as microgravity, solar radiation, and elevated carbon dioxide levels, providing a unique location to study microbial survival and adaptation. .”

“Recent studies have demonstrated that microorganisms exposed to microgravity acquire antibiotic resistance and become more virulent through rapid mutation and horizontal gene transfer.”

“Prolonged space travel in microgravity can compromise astronauts' immune systems and increase their vulnerability to disease.”

“The microbial population on the ISS can influence the astronauts' microbiome and could be replenished by the arrival of new crew members.”

“Understanding microbial colonization, inheritance, and interactions is therefore critical to ensuring the health of astronauts and managing microbial risks in isolated and confined human habitats.”

In the new study, the authors analyzed 13 bacterial strains. Enterobacter bugandensis It is isolated from the ISS.

Their results show that under stress these strains mutated and became genetically and functionally distinct compared to their terrestrial counterparts.

These strains were able to persist in large numbers on the ISS for long periods of time.

They coexisted with multiple other microorganisms, and in some cases may have helped those microorganisms survive.

“Our comprehensive analysis reveals not only how these interactions shape microbial diversity, but also the factors that may contribute to the potential dominance and inheritance of microorganisms. Ta. Enterobacter bugandensis within the ISS environment,” the researchers said.

“The implications of these findings are twofold,” they added.

“First, we shed light on the behavior, adaptation, and evolution of microorganisms in extreme and isolated environments.”

“Second, it highlights the need for strong precautions to ensure the health and safety of astronauts by mitigating risks associated with potential pathogen threats.”

of findings appear in the diary microbiome.

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P. Sengupta other. 2024. Genomic, functional, and metabolic enrichment in multidrug-resistant patients. Enterobacter bugandensis Facilitate survival and succession on the International Space Station. microbiome 12, 62; doi: 10.1186/s40168-024-01777-1

Source: www.sci.news

Newly discovered deep-sea worm amazes marine biologists

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Marine biologists at the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Ensenada Higher Education and Research Center have described a rare new species of deep-sea insect with gills discovered in a methane well off San Diego’s Pacific coast. Named pectine rice triclotti, the new species has an elongated body flanked by rows of feathery, gill-tipped appendages called lateral legs.

pectine rice triclotti, a living male specimen. Image credit: Ekin Tilic.

pectine rice triclotti belong to Nereididae, a segmented, mostly marine family of insects with over 700 recognized species.

Commonly known as lugworms, these organisms are generally found in coastal areas and are usually limited to shallow marine habitats, but can also be found in brackish waters, freshwater bodies, and even moist terrestrial environments.

However, around 10% of the total diversity of lugworms is known to inhabit deep-sea environments.

These nematodes have a long body with rows of bristly parapods on the sides and a set of scissor-like jaws for feeding.

Many lugworm species undergo two distinct life stages: atokes and epitokes.

Pectine rice triclotti was first discovered during a dive in 2009 at a depth of approximately 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) using the submersible Alvin.

“We observed two lugworms swimming close to each other, about the length of a submarine, near the ocean floor,” said Bruce Stricklot, a researcher at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Several specimens of pectine rice triclotti were collected and analyzed for anatomical features and DNA to determine their evolutionary relationships within the Nereididae family.

According to Dr. Greg Rouse, a marine biologist at the University of California, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Pectine rice triclotti has unique characteristics compared to other lugworms.

Pectine rice triclotti, while possessing menacing-looking jaws, has unknown feeding habits, with the possibility of feeding on bacteria and other large food particles similar to other insects.

The body color of pectine rice triclotti in its natural habitat is likely rosy due to the darkness at 1,000 meters below the surface.

Further research is needed to explore the reproductive mechanisms and feeding behavior of this newly discovered deep-sea species.

The finding is detailed in the article: paper published in the online journal PLoS ONE.

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TF Villalobos Guerrero et al. 2024. A remarkable new species of deep-sea Nereidae (Annelidae: Nereidiidae) with gills. PLoS ONE 19(3): e0297961; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297961

Source: www.sci.news