Innovative Discovery of Viral Defense Mechanism in Marine Bacteria by Israeli Scientists
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Jerusalem, Jan 6 (NationPress) Israeli scientists have uncovered a remarkable mechanism in marine bacteria that safeguards them from viral threats, according to a statement from the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion).
A new study published in Nature Microbiology examined the ongoing conflict between bacteria and phages, the viruses that target bacteria. This perpetual battle drives the co-evolution of these two populations within marine environments, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
In certain regions, viral infections can significantly diminish large bacterial populations, and without these protective mechanisms, the bacteria would face extinction.
The study unveiled that bacteria employ a passive defense strategy against viruses, which involves extremely low concentrations of molecules during the protein synthesis process in genetic translation.
The research investigated the interaction between Synechococcus, a marine bacterium, and the phage Syn9.
Synechococcus is essential as it generates oxygen via photosynthesis and plays a critical role in the food chain, thereby being indispensable to marine ecosystems.
The scientists discovered that Synechococcus exhibits resistance to Syn9 by decreasing levels of transfer RNA (tRNA), a crucial molecule for gene translation.
When tRNA levels are at a standard level, the bacteria become more vulnerable to the virus; however, when tRNA levels decrease, their resistance improves.
This resistance pattern is passive, where the reduction of specific intracellular functions enhances the bacteria's ability to endure viral infections.
The researchers highlighted that this resistance does not prevent the phage from entering the bacterial cell; rather, it inhibits the formation of new viruses, enabling the bacteria to survive.
They assessed that this resistance developed gradually through evolution as a result of selective pressures, suggesting that bacteria with lower tRNA levels have a higher survival rate, leading to the establishment of bacterial lineages that are less susceptible to viral infections.
They concluded that this passive resistance mechanism is widespread and not exclusive to the Synechococcus-Syn9 interaction.
