Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of a new, virus-like organism in the human gut and oral microbiome.
Medical News
In a preprint publication posted January, 2024 scientists reported discovering a new organism in the human gut biome. After studying stool and oral samples and reviewing other databases, the researchers reported they found virions in about 6.6% of stool samples and about 53% of oral samples. They calculated that about 10% of donors were positive for these virions around the world. A virion is a strand of RNA similar to a virus but without a protein coat. These virions are circular and form rod like structures the researchers named obelisks. They also found obelisks inside Streptococcus sanguinis, a common mouth flora bacteria. There were multiple distinct variants of the obelisks, oral ones being different than ones found in the gut.
Comments:
Scientists have just discovered virions, called obelisks, that are present in the human gut and mouth and also found inside some oral bacteria. What purpose these obelisks serve and whether they cause disease or are helpful in some way is not yet known.
The human body is incredibly complex and as this discovery indicates, there is much we still don’t understand about it. This new finding of obelisks inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract may possibly lead to a better understanding of the effects of the human gut biome on health.
Resources
Zheludev IN et al. Viroid-like colonists of human microbiomes. bioRxiv. Jan. 20, 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.20.576352v1
Bonk L. Yahoo Finance. Jan 30, 2024. Retrieved from: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-discover-weird-virus-like-obelisks-in-the-human-gut-and-mouth-162644669.html
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