What are 'Obelisks', the Newly Discovered Virus-Like Organisms?

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A newfound genetic entity termed ‘obelisks’ has emerged in substantial quantities within bacteria found in the human gut and mouth. This novel biological structure, exhibiting distinctive features unlike known viruses or cell types, has led researchers to classify obelisks as a third fundamental domain, enhancing our comprehension of microbial ecology within the human body.

Pioneering Discovery:

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Cell, researchers from San Diego-based biotech company Locanabio analyzed RNA sequence datasets from numerous bacterial samples constituting the human microbiome – the array of microbes residing in our gut, skin, organs, etc., regulating various bodily functions.

Among 5.4 million bacterial RNA sequences scrutinized by the team, they identified peculiar tower-shaped genetic elements prevalent in over 220,000 sequences sourced from gut bacteria. Subsequent investigation unveiled a remarkable 29,959 distinct varieties of these ‘obelisks’ within human oral microbes.

Distinctive Traits of Obelisks

Obelisks are composed of RNA and proteins, enabling them to self-replicate within bacterial cells. While bearing resemblances to known viral entities, obelisks possess distinct core characteristics.

Unlike viral sequences demonstrating diversity, obelisk genes perform uniform functions across different bacterial strains.

They integrate loosely into the bacterial genome without disrupting normal cellular mechanisms. Their stationary vertical transfer and genomic integration, devoid of cell damage, differentiate obelisks from parasitic viruses.

A Novel Addition to Biological Studies

The researchers advocate for classifying these distinctive genetic entities as a third fundamental branch in the tree of life, alongside the established domains of viruses and viroids.

According to scientists, obelisks possess their own replication machinery, distinguishing them from viruses or viroids reliant on host machinery for reproduction.

Widespread Occurrence Globally

A remarkable revelation by scientists is the ubiquity of obelisks within human microbiomes across diverse ethnicities and continents. Samples analyzed encompassed gut bacteria from various countries across Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and oral microbiome datasets representing individuals from seven continents.

Despite geographical disparities, obelisks exhibited widespread prevalence within gut and oral bacteria across global human hosts, underscoring their universal integration into microbiomes.

Implications for Human Health

The revelation of this hitherto invisible genetic entity opens new avenues for advancing our comprehension of host-microbiome symbiosis and its impact on human health.

While the function of obelisks remains unclear, researchers hypothesize their potential interaction with host immunity to safeguard bacteria against antibiotics and viruses. Further exploration in this realm promises exciting insights into manipulating microbe-host dynamics.

Moreover, cataloging obelisk diversity within healthy and diseased microbiome populations could shed light on their relevance to diseases. The research team has already observed reduced obelisk populations in bacteria from patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared to those with healthy gut flora.

The discovery positions obelisks as microbes within microbes, constituting a third dimension of the complex human microbiome. Unraveling their mysteries holds the promise of unveiling new frontiers in biology.

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