Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Whopping big viruses prey on human gut bacteria

Sequencing gut microbiomes typically turns up new microbes and other denizens of the intestinal tract, including viruses or phages that prey on these microbes. A new study has discovered the largest phages every found in humans, with genomes 10 times the average and larger than the genomes of the smallest bacteria. They target bacteria found primarily in people eating non-Western diets. Their large size seems to blur the line between life and non-life.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Sk8HIV

No comments:

Post a Comment

Scientists say house cats could help unlock better cancer treatments for humans

Scientists have mapped the genetics of cat cancer on an unprecedented scale and found surprising similarities with tumors in humans. The fin...