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Imaging reveals bacterial symbionts in the ovaries of tiny, aquatic crustaceans

A team of scientists has imaged bacterial symbionts inside the ovaries of tiny crustaceans, discovering that these bacteria manipulate host reproduction and are transmitted from mothers to offspring. This finding provides a unique model for studying endosymbiosis in an aquatic arthropod.

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 12, 2025

How an organelle evolves

A team of biologists has found that the endosymbionts of Strigomonadinae have lost virtually all genes required for division, instead relying on a nucleus-encoded protein to control their movement. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of organelles from bacteria and could lead to the development of synthetic symbiosis.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 19, 2025

Symbiotic bacterium Rickettsia affects the reproduction of a predatory insect, an effective biological control agent for agricultural pests

A research team discovered that the Rickettsia symbiont induces cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in the mirid bug, affecting its reproductive biology. This finding has significant implications for effective pest management and highlights the importance of assessing CI frequency in wild populations.

SourceNational Agriculture and Food Research Organization·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 9, 2024

A class of their own: New factors direct red algae chloroplast protein transport

Researchers from Osaka University discovered a new type of protein in red algae Cyanidioschyzon merolae associated with chloroplast protein import and targeting mechanism. The study found that red algae use distinct mechanisms involving GTP-binding proteins to transport proteins across the inner membrane of chloroplasts.

SourceOsaka University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2022

Scientists create viable, reproducing yeast-cyanobacterial hybrids

Researchers at the University of Illinois have successfully engineered artificial photosynthetic life-forms through endosymbiosis between cyanobacteria and yeast. The engineered chimera can survive and reproduce under optimal conditions, shedding light on the evolutionary origins of eukaryotic cells.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2022

This little amoeba committed grand theft

Researchers have solved the mystery of how Paulinella, an amoeba, engulfed a bacterium and harnessed its genes for photosynthesis. The study reveals that microbial genomes can move genes between organisms according to need, and that this process allows for adaptation and evolution.

SourceRutgers University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016