Researchers at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP) have identified a new biological entity, termed 'obelisk', which may reshape our understanding of biological scales and microbiological diversity. This discovery, led by Nobel laureate Andrew Fire from Stanford University, was published in the journal Cell.
The study utilized bioinformatics to analyze human microbiome samples, revealing that approximately 7% contained these novel subviral RNA agents, dubbed obelisks. These agents were found in both healthy and ill individuals, suggesting they are not directly linked to disease.
Obelisks, characterized by their elongated rod-like shape, are simple mobile genetic elements that infect bacteria. Researchers have detected up to 30,000 new species of obelisks across various environmental samples, including animal microbiomes, rivers, and soils.
Marcos de la Peña, a co-author of the study, emphasized that this finding indicates a vast unexplored realm within the microbiological world, which could have implications for understanding metabolic diseases and other health conditions.
In a separate study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, researchers discovered that certain bacteria can survive long-distance travel via desert dust storms. Approximately 10% of bacteria sampled during these storms showed signs of life, including pathogenic strains like Pseudomonas, raising concerns about potential health risks and agricultural impacts as climate change increases the frequency of dust storms.
The findings suggest that airborne bacteria could pose a risk to human health and agriculture, particularly in regions where they settle. This underscores the need for public health warnings during dust storm events, especially for vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, a study published in Nature has revealed the significance of lysine-rich intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in eukaryotic small nucleolar ribonucleoproteins (snoRNPs). These IDRs are conserved across eukaryotes and play critical roles in ribosome biogenesis.
The research indicates that the KKE/D domains within snoRNPs are essential for proper nucleolar organization and function, influencing the recruitment of other ribonucleoproteins and maintaining nucleolar structure. This discovery may enhance our understanding of ribosome production and its regulation under various cellular conditions.