24/08/2024
A new type of microscopic organism has been found in the human gut.
These newly discovered organisms are called obelisks, and they are made up of tiny rings of genetic material. Obelisks can create their own proteins that are entirely new to science. The team named their proteins “oblins.” Scientists are still figuring out what these proteins do and how obelisks interact with other organisms. Obelisks require a microbial host cell for replication. The researchers identified one potential host for obelisks, a bacterium that is mostly found in our mouths. This bacterium is known as Streptococcus sanguinis, and it’s commonly found in dental plaque. It’s still a mystery where else obelisks are found, what they do to their host, and how they spread. Up until now, obelisks went unnoticed, and could be an entirely new class of life forms. The discovery raises intriguing questions about the role of obelisks in human health, whether they might be harmful, beneficial, or merely passive inhabitants of our microbial ecosystem. There are trillions of tiny organisms in our gut that generally keep us healthy. However, if something upsets this balance, it could make us sick with conditions like diabetes and mood disorders. If obelisks prove to be parasitic, they might harm beneficial gut bacteria, disrupting the delicate ecosystem within the gut and potentially leading to health issues. Conversely, if they have a symbiotic relationship with their hosts, obelisks might contribute to the stability and diversity of the gut microbiome, possibly offering new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
