Bacteria
Ancient viral remnants in bacteria point to new antiviral strategies
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Penn State researchers report a bacterial defense that repurposes dormant viral DNA: a recombinase enzyme called PinQ flips a stretch of genome to produce protective proteins that block infection, work described in Nucleic Acids Research.
Scientists at Arizona State University have identified two unexpected ways bacteria can spread without their usual flagella structures. In one study, E. coli and salmonella use sugar fermentation to create fluid currents for surface migration, dubbed 'swashing.' A separate study reveals a molecular 'gearbox' in flavobacteria that controls directional movement.
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Researchers have discovered symbiotic bacteria inside planthopper insects with the smallest genomes recorded for any organism, measuring as little as 50,000 base pairs. These microbes, which have co-evolved with their hosts for about 263 million years, blur the line between independent bacteria and cellular organelles like mitochondria. The findings highlight extreme genome reduction in nutrient-providing symbionts.